tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64168549373157264832019-01-10T01:28:02.046-08:00Vegetarian Friend's BlogCollections of Blog Posts on Vegetarian Friend Site.Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-53841715897766694562012-10-27T03:04:00.001-07:002012-10-27T03:04:19.207-07:00Miracles of a Banana!!!!<p align="justify"><a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://api.ning.com/files/kJ5MvQx5U-FX0ydMOKk-0P0SVwQ8-M9jTWtZdXkX5CkwjazyBEZ00jg0NoMf2B5ORmJ28Thatc9zwj2CpdGsQkCCAcvBRqrK/405007_10150682182668114_573798113_9125403_1200947563_n.jpg"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img style="margin: 0px 8px 2px 0px; display: inline; float: left" align="left" src="http://api.ning.com/files/kJ5MvQx5U-FX0ydMOKk-0P0SVwQ8-M9jTWtZdXkX5CkwjazyBEZ00jg0NoMf2B5ORmJ28Thatc9zwj2CpdGsQkCCAcvBRqrK/405007_10150682182668114_573798113_9125403_1200947563_n.jpg" width="281" height="189" /></font></a>By </font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">: </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/MeghanaKomarla" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Meghana Komarla</strong></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">This is interesting.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Depression:</strong> According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>PMS:</strong> Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Anemia:</strong> High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Blood Pressure:</strong> This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Brain Power:</strong> 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Constipation: </strong>High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Hangovers:</strong> One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey.. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Heartburn:</strong> Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Morning Sickness:</strong> Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Mosquito bites:</strong> Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation. <br />Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Overweight and at work?</strong> Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.\</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Ulcers:</strong> The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Temperature control: </strong>Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. InThailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):</strong> Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood Enhancer tryptophan.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Smoking &amp;Tobacco Use:</strong> Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Stress:</strong> Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Strokes:</strong> According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Warts: </strong>Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe it's time to change that well-known phrase so that we say,</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'</em></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Banana is Great!</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://api.ning.com/files/kJ5MvQx5U-FX0ydMOKk-0P0SVwQ8-M9jTWtZdXkX5CkwjazyBEZ00jg0NoMf2B5ORmJ28Thatc9zwj2CpdGsQkCCAcvBRqrK/405007_10150682182668114_573798113_9125403_1200947563_n.jpg"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://meghustastebuds.blogspot.com/2012/03/this-is-interesting.html" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Meghus taste buds - Miracles of a Banana</font></a></p> <p align="justify"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Meghus-Taste-Buds/233944259980774" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Facebook Page - Meghus Taste Buds</font></a></p> <p align="left"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>Source : </em></font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/miracles-of-a-banana" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/miracles-of-a-banana</em></font></a></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-9639481616496597212012-10-27T02:53:00.001-07:002012-10-27T13:16:14.402-07:00Viva Vegetarian<p align="justify"><a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">By </font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">: </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/MRaghavendra" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>M Raghavendra</strong></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">One day, we hope no animal will suffer or die for the reason to satisfy the taste bud of others. We held great respect to every human being in the world. But let us think for a second. Every single day, billion and million of innocent animals lose their precious lives because of eating meat. (Not to mention they lose their freedom all of their life).</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">There are many reason involved. Many people grow up as meat eater and did not recognise this is wrong, and some choose not to see their truth. Regardless what is the reason; there is a great suffering and cruelty behind that piece of chicken, steak for their dinner. Let us not judge others, but Let us help other by share more Benefits/knowledge of Veggie Diet to them. (In a nice and respectful way). So they can discover and learn that <em>Vegetarian/Vegan foods</em> can also be delicious, healthy and easy to make too~!!</font></p> <blockquote> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">&quot;All beings fear before danger, life is dear to all. When a man considers this, he does not kill or cause to kill.&quot;~Buddha</font></p> </blockquote> <p align="justify"><a href="http://api.ning.com/files/y8gkl0tiWNrmrDVcC3LeumqkNoxeJJnYQRxW3DjP6K1u81ZRDUbUtD*--wVUBV11UKt1HGw4AO4fSxrTWTbgfDpRsqP0qkaK/420028_10150593829682511_111721267510_9663711_911326061_n.jpg"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img src="http://api.ning.com/files/y8gkl0tiWNrmrDVcC3LeumqkNoxeJJnYQRxW3DjP6K1u81ZRDUbUtD*--wVUBV11UKt1HGw4AO4fSxrTWTbgfDpRsqP0qkaK/420028_10150593829682511_111721267510_9663711_911326061_n.jpg" width="500" /></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Let’s spread compassion and peace~ Viva Vegetarian / Vegan !!!</font></p> <p align="left"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>Source : </em></font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/viva-vegetarian" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/viva-vegetarian</em></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-57016902518192751582012-10-27T02:44:00.001-07:002012-10-27T02:44:14.286-07:00Easy Paneer Tikka Masala (Dry / Gravy)<p align="justify"><a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">By </font></a><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/MeghanaKomarla" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Meghana Komarla</strong></font></a><a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong> </strong></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Paneer marinated in a variety of spices.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Usually tikka's are done in Tandoori however my version is done on stove top. I promise you guys, this recipe makes you feel so proud and happy. This is so healthy your gonna enjoy every bite of it ;) <br />Here this recipe has two versions, one you can serve it as an appetizer and second gravy. So you can decide how you want it.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000"><strong>Serves 4 <br /></strong>Category - Lunch / Dinner</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Paneer - 400g (1/2 inch thick cubes) <br /></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Oil - 1tsp + 5tsp <br /></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Butter – 5tbsp <br /></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Onion - 1 (Finely chopped) <br /></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Tomato - 1 (Finely chopped) <br /></font><font color="#000000"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Green Pepper / Capsicum - 25g (Finely chopped) Totally optional <br /></font><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Coriander / Cilantro - 2tsp (Finely chopped)</font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Ground the following to paste - <br />Plain Yogurt - 4tbsp <br />Lime juice / Amchoor(Dry mango powder) - 1/2 to 3/4tsp <br />Red chilli powder - 1/4tsp <br />Turmeric powder - 1 pinch <br />Garam Masala Powder - 1tsp <br />Tandoori Powder - 4tsp (Available in Indian Stores) <br />Garlic - 6 pods <br />Ginger - 1/2 inch <br />Pepper Corn - 1 <br />Green chilli - 1 <br />Salt to taste</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">For this recipe you will also need Skewers. Make sure these skewers are comfortable to work on stove top.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Keep aside about 2tbsp of the paste separately, we will use this for the gravy. <br />In a medium mixing bowl combine the Paneer pieces along with the ground paste. Keep the covered bowl in the refrigerator for 20 to 30mins.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Drizzle 1tsp oil over the Paneer mixture just before you cook. Put the Paneer onto the skewer and cook on the stove top, cook all the sides evenly. Let the flame be on high.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">You can stop at this point and can serve as an appetizer.&#160; Serve with </font><a href="http://meghustastebuds.blogspot.com/2011/04/tikka-chutney.html" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Tikka Chutney</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">. <br />For the gravy - <br />In a wok heat the oil and butter, add the onions, saute till transparent. Then add the green peppers saute for 2 mins next add the tomatoes and saute for 5mins. Next add the ground paste which was set aside earlier and saute till the mixture leaves oil.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Now add water as per your required consistency, bring to boil and add the Tikkas. Lastly garnish with cilantro and add lime juice if necessary.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Enjoy with fresh Bread of your choice. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Visit my Blog for more easy recipes - </font><a href="http://meghustastebuds.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Meghus Taste Buds</font></a> <br /><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">FaceBook Fan Page - </font><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Meghus-Taste-Buds/233944259980774" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Meghus Taste Buds</font></a></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://api.ning.com/files/8c8n0hXpi4jOnQEMc-aHNG1O-BD66ovXKtG6FpACFFE*Y3aF7k3bsjLYap4orBgFiqUrXKqfm0uEiVNBoulQMGXuL*iBAl6L/paneertikkamasala.jpg"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img src="http://api.ning.com/files/8c8n0hXpi4jOnQEMc-aHNG1O-BD66ovXKtG6FpACFFE*Y3aF7k3bsjLYap4orBgFiqUrXKqfm0uEiVNBoulQMGXuL*iBAl6L/paneertikkamasala.jpg" width="480" /></font></a></p> <p align="left"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>Source : </em></font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/easy-paneer-tikka-masala-dry-gravy" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/easy-paneer-tikka-masala-dry-gravy</em></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-55189220592826499812012-10-25T21:05:00.001-07:002012-10-25T21:08:23.111-07:00Chilli Chunky Manchurian (Vegan)<p align="justify"><a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">By : </font></a><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/MeghanaKomarla" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Meghana Komarla</strong></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Ingredients:</strong></font></p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Soy Chunks - 150g (Here I have used mini soy chunks)</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Onions - 1 Medium (thinly sliced)</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Capsicum / Green pepper - 1 Medium (thinly sliced)</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Green Chillies - 10Nos. (Slit into half, lengthwise) Adjust according to your preference</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Salt to taste</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Soy sauce – 2tsp</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Garlic - 6pods (Finely chopped)</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Ginger - 1/2 Inch (Juliens)</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Vinegar - 1 1/2 to 2tsp</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Tomato Ketchup - 1tsp (Add more if kids are eating)</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">coriander / cilantro - 3tbsp (finely chopped)</font></div> </li> </ul> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Directions:</strong></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">In a microwave proof cup add the chunks, 2 pinches of salt and water (enough to cover the chunks). Cook for 4 to 5 mins or till the chunks are tender. Remove once they are done and run the chunks under cold water for 2 mins. Next squeeze the water from the chunks and keep aside.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Now time to start the tempering. Heat oil in a wok, add the garlic &amp; saute for 1 min. Add the onions, green chillies and ginger &amp; saute for 3 to 4 mins. Then add the peppers saute further for 2 mins. Next add the soy sauce, ketchup, vinegar and the soy chunks. Saute for 3 to 4 mins. Lastly add the salt and cilantro.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Note : If you like super spicy then add green chilli sauce. <br />You could add spring onions too.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Meghus-Taste-Buds/233944259980774" target="_blank">Facebook- Meghus Taste Buds</a></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> <br /><a href="http://meghustastebuds.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://meghustastebuds.blogspot.com/</a></font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SlBMpeZXRzQ/Tx2054knTtI/AAAAAAAABrM/TY3KKDortYE/s1600/Manchuri+1.jpg"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SlBMpeZXRzQ/Tx2054knTtI/AAAAAAAABrM/TY3KKDortYE/s400/Manchuri+1.jpg" width="300" height="400" /></font></a></p> <p align="left"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>Source : </em></font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/chilli-chunky-manchurian-vegan" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/chilli-chunky-manchurian-vegan</em></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-73585966149489094002012-10-25T20:57:00.001-07:002012-10-25T20:58:22.392-07:00Instant Indian Salad<p align="justify"><a href="http://api.ning.com/files/8cIq07QUm6FvoYlIFxujiIlhiQbXpj*fUmn-zu54NO2z*d0Xxa-D-acOLbCcbEtxsFSVDdUnljmGRfFnRwL6*z9zZn79MArZ/Koshimbir.jpg"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://api.ning.com/files/8cIq07QUm6FvoYlIFxujiIlhiQbXpj*fUmn-zu54NO2z*d0Xxa-D-acOLbCcbEtxsFSVDdUnljmGRfFnRwL6*z9zZn79MArZ/Koshimbir.jpg"><img src="http://api.ning.com/files/8cIq07QUm6FvoYlIFxujiIlhiQbXpj*fUmn-zu54NO2z*d0Xxa-D-acOLbCcbEtxsFSVDdUnljmGRfFnRwL6*z9zZn79MArZ/Koshimbir.jpg" width="480" /></a></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">B</font><a><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">y </font></a><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">: </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/Vru" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Vru</strong></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Serving: 2-3 persons <br /></font><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Time: 10 minutes</font></p> <p align="justify"><strong><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Ingredients</font></strong></p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Tomatoes - 2 nos. finely chopped</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Onion - 1 big, finely chopped</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Cucumber – 1Medium size grated</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Carrot- ½ Well grated (Optional)</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Beetroot – ½ grated (optional)</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Coriander leaves – 2 tbsp. finely chopped</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Green chillies - 2 nos. - lengthwise split into halves</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Peanut Powder - 2 tbsp</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Sugar – ½&#160; tsp (optional)</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Salt- To taste</font></div> </li> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Curd – 3-4 Tbsp.</font></div> </li> </ul> <p align="justify"><strong><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">*To make peanut powder:</font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Take one bowl of peanuts and roast them on a pan for around 10 minutes. Keep on stirring.Let it cool down&#160; and then blend it into blender for 3-5 seconds. We don’t want smooth texture of powder.</font></p> <p align="justify"><strong><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">*Method:</font></strong></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">In a bowl, mix tomatoes, onions, grated cucumber, chillies and curd. Add sugar and peanut powder. Mix it well. On the last moment before serving add salt to taste. Garnish with coriander.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Cucumber releases water after adding salt hence, salt to add on last moment.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">It goes well with Paratha, Rice, Rozeto, or just like that.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>Source : </em></font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/instant-indian-salad" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/instant-indian-salad</em></font></a></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-78450672338351506132012-10-23T22:55:00.001-07:002012-10-24T12:12:18.532-07:00What Am I eating??<p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">B</font><a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">y </font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">: </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/MRaghavendra" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>M Raghavendra</strong></font></a><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Paul McCartney" border="0" alt="Paul McCartney" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8paL4NtJf8I/UIeC2wOgTAI/AAAAAAAAChI/DwV-aJSVD8Y/paul_mccartney_veg_ad%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="466" height="315" /></font></p> <blockquote> <p align="justify"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">&quot;We stopped eating meat many years ago. During the course of a Sunday lunch, we happened to look out of the kitchen window at our young lambs playing happily in the fields. Glancing down at our plates, we suddenly realised we were eating the leg of an animal who had until recently been playing in a field herself. We looked at each other and said &quot;Wait a minute, we love these sheep - they're such gentle creatures. So why are we eating them?&quot; It was the last time we ever did.&quot; <br />~ <font size="4" face="Times New Roman">PAUL and LINDA McCARTNEY</font> <br /></font></font></p> </blockquote> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">It takes a moment to change lives..</font> </font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="4" face="Times New Roman">It takes a moment of thought to see and realize the truth! sadly most people can't afford even that!</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><em>Source : </em><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/what-am-i-eating" target="_blank"><em>http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/what-am-i-eating</em></a></font></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-35889617202850239332012-10-23T22:42:00.001-07:002012-10-23T22:42:10.573-07:00Tomato Coconut Fried Rice<p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">B</font><a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">y </font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">: </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/MeghanaKomarla" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Meghana Komarla</strong></font></a> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Serves 6</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Ingredients:</strong></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Tomato - 4 Medium (finely chopped)<br></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Onion - 2 (thinly sliced or finely chopped)<br></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Boiled Fresh / frozen geen peas - 3/4Cup<br></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Boiled Beans - 50g (Cut to half inch lengthwise) Optional<br></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Boiled Carrot - 1 (Diced)<br></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Cloves – 8<br></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Elachi / green cardamom – 3<br></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Cinnamon - 1 inch<br></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Oil - 8tsp(Adjust if using butter)<br></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Basmati Rice - 3 Cups<br></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Coconut Milk - 2 Cups<br></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Water - 4 Cups<br></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Salt to taste</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Ground the following to a coarse paste -<br>Green chillies - 15 to 18<br>Red chillies - 15 (Remove the seeds, soak in hot water for 30mins)<br>Fresh Ginger &amp; Garlic - 25g each</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Meghus-Taste-Buds/233944259980774" target="_blank"><em>Facebook - Meghus taste buds</em></a></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><br><a href="http://meghustastebuds.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><em>Blog - Meghus taste buds</em></a></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Rinse the Rice several times in cold water, later soak the rice in water for one hour.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">In a large pot, add the soaked drained rice, coconut milk, water, 1tsp oil and salt to taste. Cover the pot and let the flame be on high for 5mins. Next simmer the flame, and let it cook for 10mins. After 10mins, open the lid and check if the grains are cooked, if uncooked continue cooking till done. Cover the pot and keep aside till the tempering is ready.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">In a big wok start the tempering, heat the oil add Cloves, Elachi &amp; Cinnamon saute for a min. Next add the onions saute till light golden brown. Now add the ground paste saute till raw smell leaves. Next add the tomatoes and saute till soft. Later add the beans, carrot, green peas, saute for 2mins. Next add the cooked rice slowly and combine. Mix throughly and the Tomato Coconut Fried rice is ready.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">This rice is served with a gravy, Its the base of green peas masala. Please follow the link below. You can prepare the original green peas recipe or prepare only the base or for the same recipe, add in your own combination of veggies.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>Green Peas Masala -<br></em></font><a href="http://meghustastebuds.blogspot.com/2011/01/green-peas.html" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>http://meghustastebuds.blogspot.com/2011/01/green-peas.html</em></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://api.ning.com/files/wJmJ3ggAk*-WTAiL0P4JzrmXF52yS8fwZyebkjyV0ZXmwD3RiJ0-vBWE64ZEkCFV1eIE5F*IeuSU3GRp7B8rbsNbntzuwFCg/TomatoCoconutFriedRice.JPG"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img src="http://api.ning.com/files/wJmJ3ggAk*-WTAiL0P4JzrmXF52yS8fwZyebkjyV0ZXmwD3RiJ0-vBWE64ZEkCFV1eIE5F*IeuSU3GRp7B8rbsNbntzuwFCg/TomatoCoconutFriedRice.JPG" width="461" height="355"></font></a></p> <p align="left"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>Source : </em></font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/tomato-coconut-fried-rice" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/tomato-coconut-fried-rice</em></font></a></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-34281231736015688922012-10-23T22:33:00.001-07:002012-10-23T22:33:38.096-07:00A Cruel and Heart-Wrenching Incident of Slaughter I Had Read About a Few Days Ago<p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">B</font><a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">y </font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">: </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/MRaghavendra" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>M Raghavendra</strong></font></a> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">It was about midnight and we are just slipping off to sleep when screams of severe pain snapped me back to reality. Someone was murdering a child outside our bedroom window. I jumped up and peered out. The body was slung to the branch of a tree and was howling pitifully. They are skinning it.. Its a Goat.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Poor kid..I could see the black shapes moving among the shadows..and realized that the neighbors were Satanists and are performing a sick, sadistic ritual to placate their evil spirits. Couldn't they go "Trick and Treating" instead? There was a severe crack of bone as they tore their poor victim apart in their frenzy.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">It turned out that our neighbors were having a separation party and had killed a goat for the occasion. They were having a big party to celebrate. In fact, It was a two goat party and we were treated to Slaughter part-2 the following morning. The children were sitting around in eager anticipation. I had thought the midnight killing was to spare them, But no.. here they were in the best seats. I had a great view from my bed room and like bullfighting, this was definitely a spectator sport.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">The handsome white male goat had been strung up to the hanging tree by its hind legs and for some reason didn't like it. It screamed horribly. The father and the two oldest sons stood by ready to do their bit. One of the sons grabbed the goat's horns to stop it swinging like a pendulum while the father danced around, his large knife glinting in the sunlight, trying to find the best angle of attack. The father stepped forward and put the knife to the goat's throat. The creature stuggled so fiercely that the two killers could bearly restrain the animal's head. In a few moments, a thick line of red liquid began to pour from the Goat's neck. All the while the goat screamed hysterically. Suddenly, the father stepped forward again, grabbed the goat's genitals and sliced them off with one swift stroke of the knife. There was now an empty pale pink patch between goat's legs. All the while it kept panicking and screaming, though now, sensing that the game was up, was putting up less of a struggle.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">The Five and Six year old were by now, in a high state of animation running around copying the horrowing death cries of agonized goat. After some minutes, It became still. The steady trickle of blood from its neck continued. the children danced still danced around screaming in mock imitation of the Goat's last agony.</font> <p align="left"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>Source : </em></font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/a-cruel-and-heart-wrenching-incident-of-slaughter-i-had-read" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/a-cruel-and-heart-wrenching-incident-of-slaughter-i-had-read</em></font></a><font color="#000000"></font></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-68423641100671259342012-10-23T22:19:00.001-07:002012-10-23T22:19:39.388-07:00Gert's Moussaka, Vegan Style<p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">By : </font><a href="mailto:Debkay25@msn.com" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Debkay25@msn.com</font></a></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m_9_cZZTpuQ/Ty678HSqCXI/AAAAAAAABoI/NjcT4uAQqJU/s1600/slice+O+moussaka.jpg"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m_9_cZZTpuQ/Ty678HSqCXI/AAAAAAAABoI/NjcT4uAQqJU/s400/slice+O+moussaka.jpg" width="400" height="267"></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">While chatting with a my lifelong friend/sister, Barb, on Facebook the other day she mentioned a couple of her mom's family recipes, Moussaka and Stifano.&nbsp; I think of Moussaka as a Greek lasagna, usually made with eggplant and ground meat, lamb or beef.&nbsp; It has layers of potatoes, a tangy tomato meat sauce, cheese, and a generous amount of creamy béchamel sauce poured on top of the layers, and topped with cheese.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Gert was one of my favorite mom's growing up.&nbsp; She had a wide range of talents and great stories to tell of her life experiences.&nbsp; We remained friends as I became an adult.&nbsp; I'd come to visit Barb unannounced and if she was not home it wasn't a problem.&nbsp; I was at home there and stayed anyway. Sometimes Gert &amp; I would crack open a bottle of wine and talk through the night.&nbsp; I was more at home at her house than my own parents' house. She lost the battle with stomach cancer some years ago and I do think about her from time to time and miss her. Gert was a lot of fun to be around.&nbsp; She has lived all over the world and when she made an authentic ethnic dish, it was authentic.&nbsp; I don't think she'd mind what I did with her family recipe. I also made a vegan version of her Stifano, a Greek beef stew, using stew meat size seitan pieces.&nbsp; I'll be posting that later.&nbsp; Simmering for three hours in the crock-pot, this dish made my house smell wonderful.</font> <p align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c1JeYB_MMTA/Ty676H4rkyI/AAAAAAAABn4/HHYqJO412UA/s1600/Hot+Vegan+Moussaka.jpg"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c1JeYB_MMTA/Ty676H4rkyI/AAAAAAAABn4/HHYqJO412UA/s400/Hot+Vegan+Moussaka.jpg" width="400" height="267"></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><b><i><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">My version of Gert's Moussaka, vegan style.</font></i></b> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Ingredients:</font></strong> <ul> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">2 Large eggplants, sliced 1/2" thick</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 14 oz. tube Gimme Lean ground beef style veggie protein – I think </font><a href="http://butlerfoods.com/"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Soy curls</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> would work well for this dish</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">3-4 small zucchini, sliced</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 1/2 pounds red potatoes</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 cup organic Panko breadcrumbs</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Cooking oil such as Olive oil or your favorite cooking oil, I used hazelnut oil</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 onion, diced</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">2 garlic cloves, minced</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">8 ounces tomato sauce, I just blended my home canned tomatoes</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1/4 teaspoon cinnamon</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 tablespoon chopped dried parsley</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">small sprig of fresh rosemary </font><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">fresh thyme leaves, about 1 teaspoon</font></font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1/2 cup red wine</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">about 1/2 - 3/4 cup Daiya mozzarella style vegan cheese</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">sea salt and ground pepper to taste</font></div></li></ul> <p align="justify"><b><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Béchamel Sauce:</font></b> <ul> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1/2 cup, 1 stick, vegan margarine, I used Earth Balance organic</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1/2 cup spelt flour</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">3 cups non dairy milk</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1/2 teaspoon turmeric</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">pinch of nutmeg</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">sea salt &amp; pepper to taste</font></div></li></ul> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Direction:</strong> </font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Slice and cook the potatoes in a small amount of water for ten minutes or until just tender, al denté.&nbsp; Set aside.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Peel and slice the eggplant and the zucchini and toss them with a little sea salt.&nbsp; Then I put them in the dehydrator for an hour or so to let the moisture evaporate.&nbsp; If you don't have a dehydrator, you can put the slices between paper towels and weight with another plate for an hour or more.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">While the eggplant is drying, prepare the 'meat' sauce.&nbsp; Dice or crumble the veggie protein which looks a lot like ground beef and brown it in a couple tablespoons of oil.&nbsp; Then add the diced onions, garlic, sea salt, and pepper.&nbsp; When the meat was brown and onions tender add the cinnamon, nutmeg, herbs, and tomato sauce.&nbsp; Stir well, add the wine, and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring a couple times.</font></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6VSbQ5sjCPM/Ty671Ikw5sI/AAAAAAAABnw/PFP6oN4OlHo/s1600/Moussaka+%2527meat%2527+filling.jpg"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6VSbQ5sjCPM/Ty671Ikw5sI/AAAAAAAABnw/PFP6oN4OlHo/s400/Moussaka+%2527meat%2527+filling.jpg" width="400" height="267"></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">The eggplant can be steamed, or sauteed with or without a breading.&nbsp; I chose to dip them in some egg replacer and dredged in a little spelt flour.&nbsp; Then I gently fried them in a little hot oil just until they were golden, not very long.&nbsp; Then put them aside on a paper towel until I needed them.&nbsp; I suppose when I have fresh picked eggplant from the garden I could just put the slices 'as is' without any prior cooking. But, since I used eggplant from the market which is probably not so fresh, it needed some tenderizing first.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Lightly oil a 9" x 13" pan and sprinkle the panko bread crumbs in the bottom.&nbsp; Leave a small space around the edges of the pan so the bechamel sauce can ooze over the sides of the dish. Make the first layer with the sliced potatoes.&nbsp; Top with a layer of eggplant slices, add the tomato 'meat' sauce, sprinkle with the shredded Daiya cheese.&nbsp; Add the zucchini slices next.&nbsp; Top with a layer of eggplant slices.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Preheat the oven to 350º and make the béchamel sauce.</font> <p align="justify"><b><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Béchamel Sauce</font></b> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Melt the vegan margarine.&nbsp; Using a whisk, add the flour to the melted margarine whisking continuously to make a smooth rue.&nbsp; Allow the mixture to cook for a minute but do not allow it to turn brown.&nbsp; Add non dairy mild in a steady stream, whisking continuously.&nbsp; Simmer over low heat until it thickens a bit but does not boil.&nbsp; Remove from heat, and stir in turmeric, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Pour the béchamel sauce over the eggplant and be sure to allow sauce to fill the sides and corners of the pan.&nbsp; Smooth the bechamel on top and sprinkle remaining cheese.&nbsp; Bake in 350º oven for 45 minutes or until sauce is a nice golden brown color.&nbsp; Allow to cool for 15 - 20 minutes before slicing and serving.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Most of this dish can be made ahead of time, but it's best to make the béchamel sauce right before you intend to bake it.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Enjoy! I am going to go have some right now.</font> <p align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hNSdTXVN8IA/Ty676zLiUaI/AAAAAAAABoA/T2bN9Uj71cw/s1600/Moussaka+pan.jpg"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hNSdTXVN8IA/Ty676zLiUaI/AAAAAAAABoA/T2bN9Uj71cw/s400/Moussaka+pan.jpg" width="400" height="267"></font></a></p> <p align="left"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>Source : </em></font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/gert-s-moussaka-vegan-style" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/gert-s-moussaka-vegan-style</em></font></a> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-82594128299023076132012-10-23T21:40:00.001-07:002012-10-23T21:40:16.312-07:00Seitan Stifado<p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">By : </font><a href="mailto:Debkay25@msn.com" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Debkay25@msn.com</font></a><strong></strong> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">The second recipe Barb sent for me to try last week was a </font><a href="http://greekfood.about.com/od/greekkitchenglossary/g/def_stifatho.htm" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Stifado</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">.&nbsp; Stifado dishes are stews, and they are easy to recognize: they include onions - a lot of onions. The most commonly used are whole small boiler or pearl onions, but larger onions can be used as well, and the quantity is often equal in weight to the main ingredient.</font> <p align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ze4osS_5w4Y/TzCLgBF7CtI/AAAAAAAABog/KgcgPwmEETs/s1600/Stifado+&amp;+Greens.jpg"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ze4osS_5w4Y/TzCLgBF7CtI/AAAAAAAABog/KgcgPwmEETs/s400/Stifado+&amp;+Greens.jpg" width="400" height="267"></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Stifado dishes can be made with meat, poultry, seafood, game, or another vegetable as the central ingredient, with onions, wine or vinegar, tomato, and a selection of spices (often including cinnamon) creating a flavorful base. Generally made on the stove-top, there are a few stifado variations that can be made in the oven. I started mine on the stove-top and simmered it on low in the crock-pot for three hours.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I don't remember having or making stifado before, but Barb loved it and sent me her mom's recipe so I thought I'd try it.&nbsp; I had most of the ingredients, I think the only thing I had to purchase was the seitan and the wine.&nbsp; I wanted to make it 'vegan style' and&nbsp; wasn't sure what I would use for a meat substitute.&nbsp; I had thought about super firm tofu, but then I saw seitan in stew meat size chunks in the cooler at the market.&nbsp; The seitan worked out great.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">It's a rich stew, I am usually a bit leery of Greek cuisine when we go out as I haven't liked some of the strong flavors. I enjoyed the gravy for this stew, but did think it might be a little strong for my husband's taste.&nbsp; I was tasting it while cooking though and I think by itself it was a little strong. Combined with the roasted red potatoes, I was pleasantly surprised, it's a really nice dish.&nbsp; I love the color and it made the house smell pretty wonderful while it was simmering too. I think I'll make this with a zucchini or summer squash and a nice vinegar instead of the wine when the vegetables are happening in the summer.</font> <p align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7bmUFcCJjF0/TzCLg4iOSWI/AAAAAAAABoo/FXFmjkVSoqs/s1600/Stifado.jpg"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7bmUFcCJjF0/TzCLg4iOSWI/AAAAAAAABoo/FXFmjkVSoqs/s400/Stifado.jpg" width="400" height="267"></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I didn't change this recipe much except to replace stew meat with seitan.&nbsp; I roasted some red potatoes to pour it on and served it with a fresh green salad of:&nbsp; chard, collards, kale, red bell pepper, kalamata olives, some roasted and steamed kaniwa seeds, splash of pumpkin seed oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, sea salt, and fresh ground pepper.&nbsp; The greens for the salad were picked fresh from my garden. Not out of the ordinary except that it is February.&nbsp; It's not usually dry enough to get out to the garden, but we have had some warm dry days, it's been very refreshing.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Gert's Stifado, Vegan Style </strong></font></p> <p align="justify"><strong><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Ingredients:</font></strong></p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 lb seitan, cut into bite size chunks</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Olive oil or your favorite cooking oil, I used hazelnut oil</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">3 cloves, crushed</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">3 bay leaves</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 cinnamon stick, cut in half</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 teaspoon allspice</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 can tomato paste</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 1/2 cups red wine</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">3 pounds small onions, I just used 4 very large onions chopped large</font></div></li></ul> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Directions:</strong></font></p> <ol> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">In a heavy pan brown seitan over high heat in a couple tablespoons oil, add garlic, bay leaves, cinnamon, and allspice, stir well. Add tomato paste and wine with 1 cup water.&nbsp; Set aside.</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Saute the onions in olive oil until golden brown and then add to the sauce, cover and simmer on very low heat for 2 to 3 hours until seitan and onions are tender.</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">During the cooking process the sauce should cover the seitan and onions.&nbsp; Add more water, if necessary.&nbsp; Sauce should be thick when ready.</font></div></li></ol><font face="Times New Roman"> <p align="justify"><br></p><font color="#000000" size="3"></font></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yVvF1miESa4/TzCLeQ5h-fI/AAAAAAAABoQ/8P8Xl6DeoUU/s400/Kaniwa+%2526+Greens+Salad.jpg" width="400" height="267"></font></p> <p align="left"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>Source : </em></font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/seitan-stifado" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/seitan-stifado</em></font></a></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-17580756883216859372012-10-23T11:22:00.001-07:002012-10-23T11:22:56.916-07:00Chocolate Vegan will Travel<p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 6px 2px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="travel" border="0" alt="travel" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YMnm2mMRsh0/UIbgfF3ZGMI/AAAAAAAACgk/YoUAl26S6A0/travel%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="284" height="295">B</font><a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">y </font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">: </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/AmberGriffin" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Amber Griffin</strong></font></a><a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong> </strong></font></a> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">“Bizarre travel plans are dancing lessons from God.” – Kurt Vonnegut</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I'm a vegan, I LOVE chocolate. The only thing I love as much as Chocolate is to travel. I absolutely love to travel. For many years I was a <em>Vegetarian traveller</em>, which has it's share of challenges. It is unbearably rude to decline food when offered almost everywhere in the world. And when you don't eat ANYTHING, that can lead to uncomfortable situations. It's pretty easy to travel vegan in the tropics where there are a plethora of fruits and veggies and rice and beans coming out of your yazoo. You just learn the local language for "<em>Without milk/cheese/egg/meat, please</em>" and learn the words for "deathly allergic to" for when you are in someone's home. All well and good. I have survived flying by the seat of my pants having only to sacrifice my ideals in the name of politeness a couple of times... shudder.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Last Summer my partner and I spent 2 months in Iceland. We hitch hiked and camped the entire time. Do you have any idea what they eat in Iceland??? Do you have any idea what is available to eat, in Iceland?? I'll give you a hint... it's not all that wool.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">In Reykjavik there are a couple of good <em>vegan friendly</em> options like <strong>Cafe Babalo</strong> and my favourite soup and salad bar of ALL TIME at<strong> 'Kryddlegin Hjörtu'.</strong> Most of the time the only place to eat out in a small town is the notorious Gas Station/grocery/fast food bar/community hub. There you will inevitably find a small variety of packaged foods, an ice cream and hot dog counter and a few tables to eat at. I ate many a bag of salty popcorn with an American flag on the package. In larger towns where there was an actual restaurant I was usually limited to the odd combination of a salad with fries. Sometimes luck would have it that they had a salad bar!!! Those were the days!</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Iceland has been blessed with geothermal activity and uses it in hot houses to grow delicious <em>nutritious veggies</em> that can be found in some odd places for a few kroner.&nbsp; I could eat the Tomatoes, the carrots, and the rich moist rye bread. That's it, that's all, that's Iceland.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">A vegetarian would allow for Skyr , and local cheese's... but a vegan will have to do her research and bring her own artillery of nutritious foods. I did that, and though it took time and planning, it was well worth it.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">For multi day hikes you need lightweight nutritious energy food in addition to more bulky protein sources and quick easy to cook hearty and hot meals. You will need to get rid of all extra packaging and portion your own "just add water and heat" meals.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">This is what we brought from home:</font></p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">300g vegan chocolate (like I'd leave home without it!)</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">lb of almond butter (use it up before climbing over mountains for days)</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1036g Chocolate Vega Meal Replacement</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">12 pack of chocolate Vega whole food vibrancy bars</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">12 assorted cliff bars</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">12 assorted Larabars</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">12 Super Food Slam ProBars (these are amazing)</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">635 g Progressive Vega Greens</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">336 g Coco Camino dark hot chocolate</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">984g Carb-Boom Strawberry Kiwi gel</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">129 g Ultima Replenisher Lemonade</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">552g Vance's DariFree Potato Milk Powder</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">A huge bag of nuts and dried fruit</font></div></li></ul> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">With our tight student's budget we didn't want to buy all pre packaged meals so I bought in bulk:</font></p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">cooked, dehydrated balck beans</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">bulk dehydrated vegan chili</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">dehydrated hummus</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">cooked dehydrated kidney beans</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">dehydrated potato flakes</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Barley flakes</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">brown rice flakes</font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Oatmeal</font></div></li></ul> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Portion out tantalizing mixes of grains and beans into zip lock bags and season with nutritional yeast, dried herbs, spices, and bullion. Write cooking directions on the bag in permanent marker.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">With the proper planning and preparation you should be able to go anywhere without going hungry.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Good luck!!</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em><font color="#000000">Source : </font></em><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/chocolate-vegan-will-travel"><em><font color="#000000">http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/chocolate-vegan-will-travel</font></em></a></font></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-29018588610604317682012-10-23T11:01:00.001-07:002012-10-23T11:04:03.384-07:00Yummy Vegan Coconut Cupcakes<p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">By : <a href="mailto:Debkay25@msn.com" target="_blank"><strong>Debkay25@msn.com</strong></a></font><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Oh my gosh, these are good! Those were words from my husband and I every time we split one of these last night.&nbsp; So glad I immediately popped most of them in the refrigerator.&nbsp; That way they aren't in our view to pick up every time we walk in the kitchen. We really do have to give these away today because although they are vegan, they do have lots of sugar.&nbsp; We shouldn't be eating all of these. My friends Christy and Les are moving today.&nbsp; They have lots of help, I am sure, she has at least four children around as well as some cousins to help.&nbsp; I'll drop a dozen over for a nice treat for the hard working crew, her large family.&nbsp; They'll know what to do with them.</font> <p align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cePEGrb3JDs/TxwXZM4injI/AAAAAAAABlc/zcvq7rKfDOg/s1600/coco+Cupcake+w+frosting.jpg"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cePEGrb3JDs/TxwXZM4injI/AAAAAAAABlc/zcvq7rKfDOg/s400/coco+Cupcake+w+frosting.jpg" width="400" height="300"></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Our local vegan/vegetarian potluck is next Friday so I thought I'd practice a dessert.&nbsp; There are lots of guests at our potluck who are new to plant based eating and I do like to lure them in with the sweets.&nbsp; I want to let people know that eating a plant based diet doesn't mean just chewing on raw celery, carrots, and broccoli.&nbsp; There are so many fun things to enjoy, but many of us in the U.S. just weren't raised with cakes and cookies made without eggs and milk.&nbsp; I was surprised when I learned to bake vegan six years ago.&nbsp; I had no idea I could get a beautiful, moist fluffy cake without using dairy or eggs. These are a winner and I plan on making them next week: Coconut cake with coconut creme Frosting.&nbsp; The cake is rich and fluffy and the frosting creamy and full of flavor. This cake rose very nicely, a challenge for most vegan cake baking.&nbsp; I've had quite a few cake attempts become 'brownies' or 'bars'.&nbsp; Fresh lemon juice and zest are added to both the batter and the frosting so they have a nice citrus flavor burst.</font> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">The recipe I used is from a blog post I recently ran across called </font><a href="http://veganthyme.blogspot.com/2011/09/vegan-coconut-cake-with-coconut.html"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Vegan Thyme</font></a><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">.&nbsp; I bookmarked it immediately.&nbsp; She makes other items, but so far I haven't gotten past her cakes yet, beautiful tasty cakes. It looks like a blog similar to my own.&nbsp; The author says she created her blog to remember.&nbsp; I understand that, so many things I have cooked in the past I'd like to make again, but don't remember all the ingredients because I didn't really measure and I didn't write anything down.&nbsp; Keeping the blog has helped me record some of the creations I make as well as keep recipes and links I'd like to reference again.</font> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">I made cupcakes instead of a layer cake.&nbsp; This recipe yielded 24 beautiful cupcakes.&nbsp; I baked them for about 25 minutes at 350º.&nbsp; I toasted large coconut flakes and added a little lemon zest to the top of the cupcakes. I didn't flatten the batter to make it even in the cupcake pans as the cake recipe suggests.&nbsp; I just used a 3 oz. scoop and let the cake do what it does.&nbsp; As you can see, it turned out just great.</font> <p align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EU-Z1BZf6Sk/TxwXbZiMXzI/AAAAAAAABls/n7lmGIAXFpI/s1600/Cup+and+a+half.jpg"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EU-Z1BZf6Sk/TxwXbZiMXzI/AAAAAAAABls/n7lmGIAXFpI/s400/Cup+and+a+half.jpg" width="400" height="308"></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Vegan Coconut Cake</strong></font> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">*Adapted from Ina Garten</font> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Makes two 9-inch cakes</font> <ul> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">3 sticks unsalted vegetable margarine (cut into cubes and set out at room temp. for 30 minutes)</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">2 cups sugar</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">5 teaspoons Ener-G Egg Replace mixed with 1/4 cup plus 1/8 cup of water (or the egg replacer of your choice equivalent to 5 eggs)</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 teaspoon almond extract</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">1/2 teaspoon coconut extract</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 teaspoon baking powder</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">1/2 teaspoon baking soda</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 cup unsweetened non dairy milk</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">zest of half a lemon</font></div></li></ul> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Preheat oven to 350.</font> <ol> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Line two 9" cake pans with parchment paper, then spray with non-stick baking spray.</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">In a large mixing bowl (the stand mixer works best)--add the room temperature margarine and sugar and beat on medium speed for about five minutes until the mixture is very light and very fluffy.</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Prepare the dry ingredients in a separate bowl--the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and whisk well to combine. Set aside.</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Mix together the egg replacer powder with the water. Now, add this to the sugar mixture and beat on medium speed for another two minutes. Add the extracts to this and mix well. Now you add the milk and flour mixture in the following manner: first add a third of the flour and then a third of the milk to the sugar/egg mixture. Mix well after each addition--about fifteen seconds of mixing--then add another third of the flour mixture, another third of the milk and repeat this step until the flour and milk are all used. Remove the beaters from the bowl and fold in the shredded coconut and lemon zest to the batter with a spoon. Don't overmix it!</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Spread the batter in the cake pans and flatten with a spatula to make sure the batter is even on top. Bake for 45 minutes. The edges of the cake should be golden brown in color and just beginning to pull away from the sides of the pan. Remove from the oven and allow the cakes to cool in the pans for about 30 minutes. Carefully remove the cakes from the pans and allow to cool completely on cooling racks.</font></div></li></ol> <p align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KHHgutECEw8/TxwXdp2DtqI/AAAAAAAABmE/wQqM4q84enw/s1600/Hot+Coconut+Cupcakes.jpg"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KHHgutECEw8/TxwXdp2DtqI/AAAAAAAABmE/wQqM4q84enw/s400/Hot+Coconut+Cupcakes.jpg" width="400" height="267"></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1NkZJg-ngQ/TxwXeRbju-I/AAAAAAAABmM/dOl-k5QNSoE/s1600/Top+Cupcake.jpg"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1NkZJg-ngQ/TxwXeRbju-I/AAAAAAAABmM/dOl-k5QNSoE/s400/Top+Cupcake.jpg" width="400" height="267"></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Vegan Coconut Butter Cream Frosting</strong></font> <ul> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">5 tablespoons vegetable spread</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">5 tablespoons unsalted vegetable margarine</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">1/4 cup vegan cream cheese</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">3 cups of powdered sugar--or more if needed</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">1/4 teaspoon coconut extract (*this is a key flavor enhancer!)</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">2 tablespoons lemon juice and zest of 1/2 a lemon</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 cup shredded sweetened coconut (for sprinkling over the cake after it's frosted)</font></div></li></ul> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Cream together the first three ingredients then begin adding the powdered sugar one half cup at a time. Continue adding the sugar until the desired consistency of your frosting is reached. Add the extracts and lemon and zest. Mix well. If you see that you need more powdered sugar, add only about a quarter cup at a time.</font> <p align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7WBa_F9iCA0/TxwXdFnimKI/AAAAAAAABl8/RH54qAhGjpU/s1600/Good+Cupcake.jpg"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7WBa_F9iCA0/TxwXdFnimKI/AAAAAAAABl8/RH54qAhGjpU/s400/Good+Cupcake.jpg" width="400" height="387"></font></a></p> <p align="left"><em><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Source : </font></em><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/yummy-vegan-coconut-cupcakes"><em><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/yummy-vegan-coconut-cupcakes</font></em></a></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-66457902309802895442012-10-22T04:43:00.001-07:002012-10-24T00:08:50.609-07:00Tofu Quiche ~ Vegan and Gluten Free<p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="TofuQuiche" border="0" alt="TofuQuiche" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-M3SpOO6Z_xI/UIUxLGjRY7I/AAAAAAAACcw/vOZJog6Rayg/TofuQuiche%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="451" height="316"></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">By : </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/DebKay" target="_blank"><font color="#000000"><strong>Debkay25@msn.com</strong></font></a><font color="#000000"> </font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I made some awesome tofu quiché in muffin cups yesterday.&nbsp; I created a variation of my friend Felicia's recipe.&nbsp; She brought some to the last potluck and I always have some tofu and fresh veggies around. Thought I'd give it a try this weekend. This is an easy meal and can be made with just about any vegetables.&nbsp; She did find out while creating her recipe that the vegetables that contain the most moisture, like zucchini, should be dried a little or sauteéd first. I sliced a yellow zucchini very thin and weighted the slices between paper towels for about 30 minutes.&nbsp; I had some fresh asparagus spears and just chopped them in about 1/2 inch sections. I also chopped some green onions to add to the vegetable mixture.&nbsp; I didn't use mushrooms this time, but that's OK, my honey doesn't care for them much.&nbsp; I also didn't have soft tofu, but I did have some vegan cream cheese in the fridge, which is made with tofu.&nbsp; It worked great.&nbsp; The little quiches came out firm, but fluffy. For my gluten intolerant friends, it's not only vegan, it's also gluten free.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000"><b><i><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Tofu Quiché<br></font></i></b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">by Felicia Divina</font></font> <ul> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">2 tsp minced garlic</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">1 c chopped vegetables, spinach works best for me but anything low moisture, if you use zucchini saute first to get moisture out or dry it with paper towels. <i>(I used asparagus, green onions, &amp; sliced yellow zucchini.)</i></font></font></font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 1/2 c chopped mushroom, sauteed (add the rosemary here if you are using dried)</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">tsp chives</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">tsp rosemary</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1 box firm tofu</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">1/2 c plain tofu</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">3 or 4 TB nutritional yeast</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">2 TB cornstarch&nbsp; <i>(I omitted the cornstarch)</i></font></font></font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">2 tsp tahini (heaping, I love the stuff)</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">1 tsp tamari <i>(Tamari is my addition to her recipe)</i></font></font></font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">pinch freshly ground black pepper</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">pinch turmeric <i>(I used big pinch turmeric, about a teaspoon)</i></font></font></font></div></li></ul> <p align="justify"><i><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I also added a sprinkle of cayenne to the top of each and a little Daiya cheddar and mozzarella style vegan cheese.</font></i> <ol> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Spray muffin tin, spoon veggies into tins</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Blend everything but the veggies in food processor or blender until smooth.</font></div> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Pour over the veggies. Bake at 350º for about 25 to 30 minutes, they will be firm and golden brown.</font></div></li></ol> <p align="justify"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="TofuQuicheBefore" border="0" alt="TofuQuicheBefore" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-scewwG0uJRQ/UIUxPRT_WII/AAAAAAAACc4/00HjZaVFPTo/TofuQuicheBefore%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="466" height="322"></p> <p align="justify"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="WholeQuiche" border="0" alt="WholeQuiche" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tCqKhzhqY-o/UIUxTwZdUWI/AAAAAAAACdA/tpovv0hfKr0/WholeQuiche%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="468" height="329"></p> <p align="left"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em><font color="#000000">Source : </font></em><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/tofu-quiche-vegan-and-gluten-free" target="_blank"><em><font color="#000000">http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/tofu-quiche-vegan-and-gluten-free</font></em></a></font></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-56452826963608839312012-10-22T04:00:00.001-07:002012-10-22T04:00:11.775-07:00Question Society<p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">By : </font><a></a><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/Geo" target="_blank"><strong><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Geo</font></strong></a></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Something I said a while ago, thought it would be relevant:</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">The countries with the highest rates of cancer, osteoporosis, high cholesterol, and just sickeness in general, also correlate with the countries that have the most meat and dairy intake. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Maybe, just maybe, all the glamorization of it is just for profit, and not for your health; just like those prescription meds that only masks symptoms and leave you perpetually hooked for life. Maybe we're afraid to question ourselves and habits because "its tradition" or we naively think we"need" it. Maybe most of society is too oblivious to the truth. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">We say we are free, but if you know something is toxic, inhumane, and downright primitive, but can't give it up because of "taste", are you really free? Or is that exactly how they want you... maybe</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>Source : </em></font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/question-society" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/question-society</em></font></a></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-31218666404440108872012-10-22T03:55:00.001-07:002012-10-22T03:55:56.495-07:00Oh my vegan! :)<p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 6px 2px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="healthy fruits" border="0" alt="healthy fruits" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-w7xdyPaVNK0/UIUmN8A5DrI/AAAAAAAACcQ/TEeZfEfBinQ/oh%252520my%252520vegan%25255B5%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="260" height="207">By : </font><a></a><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/LeannaGonzalez" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Leanna Gonzalez</strong></font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Health propaganda, pseudo health facts, fallacies, call it what you will, misleading information manipulated and put out there that are completely false. Corporate money paid for false claims. And this needs to be fixed.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Sitting in my nutrition class today, I find myself unable to withhold myself from not taking my 'professor' seriously. The 'My Plate' that replaced the My Pyramid which has a cup alongside the plate of what your foods be divided like labeled 'Dairy.' I almost laughed that 'dairy' need to be included because, in fact, any source of any nutrient you'll ever need is more fittingly found in your natural foods. Leafy greens, and alternative milks (which have over 50% more calcium)... Or the aspartame section about what happens when you're '<i>sensitive</i>' to it and that the only thing listed for those who should not consume it are individuals with PKU. At this point I felt this was getting a little ridiculous because NO individual should consume aspartame if you truly knew what all the studies and facts point at. Brain tumors included. Now I feel like I have some HUGE research to do questioning everything in my book even more than it let's on. We are being killed through food. Cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity, stroke, etc. Major studies have shown the connection to a meat-eaters diet.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Did you know that juicing and getting all those micro nutrients does such AMAZING things for you?? I even bought a juicer immediately after watching the&nbsp; 'Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead' documentary. It has very inspiring juicing stories! It is a must see! As well as Forks and Knives of course. :)</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">It's almost funny that I find people saying something like, "A little poison won't kill you if you have it in moderation, moderation is the key!" lol. If something is truly bad for you shouldn't you just not consume it at all? Especially when there's safer, even yummier and more healthy, alternatives. Everything can easily be replaced. Hell, I think vegan cupcakes and treats taste better than any egg, milk recipe I've ever had (when I used to consume that)! Some things just should never be eaten and that is that. :) Not "pick your poison", NO poison needs to be chosen. Just a change in diet.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I have HUGE goals. Oh, yes. I want to become famously known for my contributions to the veggie community. Be the best advocate I can! :D My lifestyle had plunged me into a major movement in my life! Yoga, gym, juicing, vegan diet. Oh, I feel so wonderful! And one day I want to perform research and studies and further make all the arrows point to a murder-free all-natural plant-based diet. :) They basically already do when you look into it so I have work to come up with better ideas! lol or maybe... I can help people heal like the many stories and documentaries I've heard and watched through a plant-based diet.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">And you can't get mad at someone for promoting good nutrition, animal well-fare, and a better environment all in one can you? :) That'd be pretty absured! lol. It's also funny how people get mad at veggies for 'preaching' when other major movements can have the freedom to be as loud and aggressive as they want. Why should we tiptoe around the issues we address like broken glass? No. Our movement also needs to be heard, <strong>our passion, our voices, our love! &lt;3</strong></font></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Why has the oppressor been seen as better than the oppressed? For the animals, we are their voices. For health. For love. We are the voices of that as well. There is a price to silence, and I'm not going to take that price.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">(This article inspired me more about this as well: </font><a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/i-am-not-going-to-ap" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/i-am-not-going-to-ap...</font></a><font color="#000000"></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">)</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Anyways, I'm just hyped up right now. Just to add a little more...Here's some copy and pastes from a book I purchased called '<em>Veganist</em>', if you like it please look into purchasing it to learn more and support the author :</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">All food poisoning--all foodborne viruses, bacteria, and antibiotic-resistant infections--comes from animals, including humans. Over 95% of the meat, dairy, and eggs we eat comes from factory farms, where the animals are pumped full of drugs to keep them ALIVE and speed up their development and productivity. In fact, chickens get twice the antibiotic dosing than cattle do, because the conditions they are raised in are the worst of the worst and therefore require more medicine to keep them alive long enough to be killed for their meat. In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control reported finding fecal constamination in 90% poultry, 75% beef, and 43% pork.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">A man was scheduled for bypass surgery with multiple blockages in his coronary ateries. After just eleven days on a low-fat, plant-based diet, the pain was gone. He canceled his surger. Dr. Esselstyn publish his findings in the American Journal of Cardiology.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Doctors and others have published their results, which prove that vast numbers of people who have beaten heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, impotenence, dementia, and more by changing the way they eat.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Dean Ornish, and Dr. Neal Barnard agree that whole foods, plant-based diet minimizes the likelihood of stroke, obesity, hypertensions, type 2 diabesters, and cancers of the breast, prostate, colon, rectum, uterus, and ovary.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Source : </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/oh-my-vegan"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/oh-my-vegan</font></a></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-44626343122328711992012-10-19T10:55:00.001-07:002012-10-19T10:57:53.341-07:00The Gore Gore Ghouls<p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">By : Richard Deboo</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Posted on </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/the-gore-gore-ghouls" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Vegetarian Friend</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> By </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/debbiedeboo" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Debbiedeboo</font></a> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I have something of a liking for gory horror movies and watched a great film the other day, “</font><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/dvdstore08fd0-20/detail/B00125WATQ"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Inside</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">”, a French movie from 2009 starring <strong>Alysson Paradis</strong> and <strong>Beatrice Dalle</strong>.&nbsp; A genuinely very fine film, emotionally taut and deeply involving.&nbsp; There’s also a heck of a lot of blood on show.&nbsp; I strongly recommend this movie.&nbsp; It lingers in the memory long after the final titles have rolled…</font> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/dvdstore08fd0-20/detail/B00125WATQ"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 7px 2px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Inside" border="0" alt="Inside" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UBG-lSFZ29s/UIGUF770lcI/AAAAAAAACXE/bM3Mr-hWg4g/inside%2525202%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="190" height="282"></font></a><font color="#000000">But I know that a lot of people won’t watch it because it is violent, it does have a lot of <em>blood</em> being splattered everywhere. A lot of people just don’t like that stuff.&nbsp; It’s not a film for all the family.&nbsp; It’s not uplifting, it’s not a feel-good film … it is brutal and cruel.&nbsp; And a lot of people just don’t like that.&nbsp; And I can understand that.</font></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">But what I can’t understand is why many of those same people seem okay about the <em>meat and dairy industries</em>.&nbsp; If they don’t like violence, and lots of blood being spilt, and cruelty and brutality, why then do they like <em>eating meat and dairy products</em>?</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">At least with “Inside” I know that everybody’s okay.&nbsp; At the end of the filming <strong>Alysson Paradis</strong> and <strong>Beatrice Dalle</strong> had a shower, cleaned off the fake blood, and went home.&nbsp; The studio hands got their buckets and sponges out and cleaned off the fake blood from the walls.&nbsp; The hammer and the knife didn’t <strong>really</strong> cause injury, pain and extremely violent, bloody deaths… it was all pretend.&nbsp; <strong>Beatrice Dalle</strong> is a very good actress and a very nice person I’m sure – she doesn’t <strong>really</strong> maim and kill.&nbsp; She wouldn’t really do <strong>that</strong> for a living.</font> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CmSH-gKhdPk/UIGUH9bw_QI/AAAAAAAACXM/gwA_YHvZKfc/s1600-h/Cattle-processing-slaughterhouse%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 6px 2px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Cattle-processing-slaughterhouse" border="0" alt="Cattle-processing-slaughterhouse" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jVFJwp8MpX8/UIGUJiTdinI/AAAAAAAACXc/4te_g_SQGYg/Cattle-processing-slaughterhouse%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="308" height="212"></font></a><font color="#000000">The <strong>slaughterhouse </strong>is real.&nbsp; The knives and the hammers really do kill.&nbsp; The people who work there really do maim, torture and kill for a living.&nbsp; The walls are splattered with real blood; the channel on the kill floor runs very deep with a shocking torrent of real blood.&nbsp; The workers’ clothes are saturated in real blood, real scraps of split flesh, stained with the slashed mess of evisceration, the tissue of brain and spine.&nbsp; The<strong> slaughterhouse</strong> is truly<em> hell on earth</em>, an unceasing, unremitting, unyielding scream of violence, viciousness and cruelty.&nbsp; It is a totality of brutality.&nbsp; Mercy is dead at the gates.&nbsp; Within is only murder.</font></font> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000"><strong>The slaughterhouse</strong> only exists because of those who want to <em>consume meat and dairy products</em>.&nbsp; The violence only happens because of those people.&nbsp; Those damned, bloody deaths only happen because of those people.&nbsp; The person who walks the supermarket aisle and picks up the meat and reaches for the carton of milk has directly, absolutely caused the bolt to be fired into the animal’s head, has switched on the conveyor belt to take day-old baby chicks on a short death rattle journey to the mincing machine, has spun the blade that slashes the throats, has powered the slicing blades that rip the animal’s insides from his or her body, even as they breathe their last.&nbsp; The kill floor is awash with deep rivers of blood pouring from destroyed bodies that were only destroyed because of that person reaching out in the supermarket to do their weekly shopping.&nbsp; They made it happen.</font></font> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000"><strong>The gore in the slaughterhouse is brutally real</strong>.&nbsp; An intense agony that never ends.&nbsp; No credits roll.&nbsp; No pretence, no fantasy, no “story”, no joke.</font></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">People might not like my taste in movies but I can always and absolutely honestly say that no-one was harmed in the creation of that entertainment but when someone sits down at table to enjoy their meat and dairy they absolutely cannot ever say that no-one was harmed.&nbsp; <strong>They</strong> caused harm.&nbsp; <strong>They</strong> killed.&nbsp;&nbsp; They may have washed their hands thoroughly before sitting down to eat but I can still see the stain of blood that lingers on their fingers and rings their mouth with every bite.</font> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-6324958362220963932012-10-18T03:59:00.001-07:002012-10-18T05:45:56.424-07:00We Are The Ones<p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">By : Richard Deboo </font></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Posted on </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/we-are-the-ones" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Vegetarian Friend</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> By </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/debbiedeboo" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Debbiedeboo</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">The following is the text of the speech that I gave at the TW VegFest event in Tonbridge Wells,&nbsp; England on Saturday 19 November, 2011. </font></font> <p align="center"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">From childhood’s hour I have not been<br>As others were; I have not seen<br>As others saw; I could not bring<br>My passions from a common spring.<br>From the same source I have not taken<br>My sorrow; I could not awaken<br>My heart to joy at the same tone;<br>And all I loved, I loved alone</font></p> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">Those words of course are the opening lines to Edgar Allen Poe’s masterful “Alone“, one of the finest, most lyrical short poems of the 19th century.&nbsp; I sometimes feel, as someone deeply committed to the protection, the welfare, the rights of my animal companions in this world, that I am somewhat different, somewhat …alone. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">It is only when coming to an event such as this that one realises that … I am not alone, that … we are not alone … we are not alone in the universe, there are other, similar life-forms just like us out there … there are, in fact, lots and lots of us but even so, our differentness is often exaggerated by the indifference of a society that refuses to play its part in the beautiful drama of compassionate living. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Here are but a few telling tales from my own recent past.&nbsp; Last year when the football World Cup was on in South Africa, a few of us decided to go to the pub after </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_work"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">work</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> to </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_watch"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">watch</font></a><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3"> one of the games – 16 of us went in total.&nbsp; As it was after work, people wanted to get some food as well; 15 of us ordered a burger and chips.&nbsp; I didn’t order the burger; I didn’t even order the chips – they looked a bit rank to me!&nbsp; I subsisted that evening entirely on the nutrients to be extracted from a large number of bottles of Peroni, and I think that I rather well really… but the point was made, that I was the different one… </font></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">At Christmas time, we had a party at work and much was made of the catering that was going to laid on for us – on the evening there were great long tables filled with food, people eagerly picking at the goodies on offer … except that there was nothing there for me.&nbsp; One of the catering </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_staff"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">staff</font></a><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3"> came over and said, “oh – you’re the one.&nbsp; Your food is out the back, I’ll go and get it.”&nbsp; Apparently I was the one … but not, unfortunately, in the same way as Keanu Reeves in The Matrix… back she came with a plate, looking quite pleased with herself.&nbsp; I took the plate and looked at … well, some soggy green things (it was difficult to tell exactly what they were) not so much drizzled but drowned in oil, limp leaves hanging over the edge of the plate, looking for all the world like the melted clocks in Dali’s The Persistence of Memory, except that this was no work of art … my mate sniggered and snorted as he drank from his beer and yes, once again I was the different one… </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">A few years before that I was working at a major investment bank in the City of London and as an investment bank they of course had great wads of cash to flash around spending it on whatever they liked.&nbsp; This was before the credit crunch … and I find it interesting that following the credit crunch they’ve ended up with even more cash to splash now for failing than they ever had when they were apparently succeeding … such are the mysteries of global capitalism… </font></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Anyway, back then the bank decided to throw some cash down at the lower orders who </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_worked"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">worked</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> there, such as myself, and they sent us on a ridiculously expensive 3-day residential training course at a terrifyingly posh hotel out in the Kent countryside … I’m sure this hotel had never had to put up with the likes of me before and if I hadn’t have had my </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_company"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">company</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> pass I’m sure I’d have been </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_shot"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">shot</font></a><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3"> at the gates as a peasant intruder… but I did have my company pass so there was nothing they could do about it and they had to let me in… </font></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">We did the training during the day and that was all very boring, but it was in very fine, oak-panelled surroundings, every detail a deliberate </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_expression"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">expression</font></a><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3"> of a place luxuriating in its own exclusivity and opulence … but it was in the evening, at dinner, that the hotel really wanted to impress … </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">From early evening drinks we were ushered through to the dining-room, a space perfectly dressed in exquisite finery, the other guests already making delicate chinks of sound as cutlery met china under the murmur of soft conversation… a piano player made gentle tones at the grand piano … a full grand piano, no baby stuff for this place … we were seated at a long table for the eight in our group, plus our two trainers.&nbsp; I had, of course, explained my dietary needs to the hotel beforehand – as a vegan one learns very quickly to seek to pre-empt any major confusion at the mere mention of that apparently alien-sounding word…vegan.&nbsp; Even so, when the hors d’oeuvres when brought through mine was a piece of a fish … I explained this problem to one of the waiters who said, “oh you’re a strict one?” before taking it away.&nbsp; Maybe I didn’t want a starter anyway. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">Then the main event.&nbsp; The main course.&nbsp; This was where the chef was going to demonstrate his creative brilliance, his culinary genius… and this was full silver-service. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">We each had a waiter dedicated to us with the maitre d’ in full command of his staff.&nbsp; Each of the waiters stood at our side, holding the silver platters in their hands, the silver domes sparkling in the evening light.&nbsp; With a nod the maitre d’ gestured to the pianist who paused his playing, the room </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_fell"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">fell</font></a><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3"> silent and the waiters placed the platters before us.&nbsp; A moment to savour as we waited for the revelation of what was in front of us.&nbsp; With an orchestrated wave of the maitre d’s finger the waiters reached over in perfect synchronisation and lifted the silver lids – my colleagues to a one “ooh-ed” and “aah-ed” and “wow-ed”, gasps of delight as they looked on in wide-eyed wonder at their plates.&nbsp; I looked at my … risotto in something less than wonder.&nbsp; “Is that it?” one of colleagues said as she gazed across at the sorry-looking damp rice splodged on my plate.&nbsp; What could I say?&nbsp; At least the chef had managed a vegan risotto.&nbsp; But they feasted well, my colleagues, that evening on their varieties of so-called “game”, the chef’s speciality, naturally, the hotel’s speciality, naturally, and I was once more “the one”… </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">The second evening we had the same service, the same dedicated attention to our needs, the same sliver platters, the same nod to the pianist, the same ritual with the team of waiters, the same revelation of the chef’s virtuosity and remarkable talent … and I had the same risotto.&nbsp; And I saw the same, pained sorrowful looks from my colleagues. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">The final evening after a third day’s training, and for the last time the ceremony unfolded as before, themaitre d’ ushering us through to the dining room for one more meal … one more example of the chef’s magnificence, one further chance to sample the pleasure of his genius; one further pause by the pianist as the waiters raised the polished, silver domes one last time and once more the same “oohs” and “aahs” and “wows” from my colleagues and .. oh yes, once more the same risotto for me!&nbsp; Once more I was singled out, I was different, I was alone. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">I complained of course although the hotel was completely unconcerned; they make plenty of money by filling plates with plenty of so-called “game” birds, reclining afterwards in the rich rewards from so much praise from so many well-fed, well-satisfied guests. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">I mention these incidents not because I felt bad about any of them, not because I felt embarrassed by what happened, and not because I felt that I was in any way wrong for being “the one”, for being “singled out” in that way … on the contrary, the very opposite was true then and is still true now … </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">I seriously could have cared less about being “the one”, and I would only have preferred more “ones” to make us into a many… but I was fine without the burger and chips in the pub that day, looking around the table and seeing their hands greasy with the stain of flesh dribbled with oil to burn away the blood; I was fine, really, with those limp leaves at the Christmas party – how else could I ever enjoy a party, a festiveoccasion, if I had corpse parts on my plate?&nbsp; And I was massively unfazed by the pained looks of my colleagues in that hotel as they looked sadly at my plate, and I looked at them and saw their cheeks fat with the torn shreds of the violently slaughtered, their faces reddening and bulging with the stuffed remnants of an eviscerated life. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">They may have laughed and joked at the table, at the party and in the pub but when I smile I do not have the tattered flesh of the slain hanging from my teeth, my skin does not ooze the rotten grease of death and when I breathe I do not exhale the swallowed scream of the viciously killed. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">There was nothing wrong with being “the one” … but the one thing that is wrong in all of this is that it is the wrong way around – it is the one who rips into the bodies of the dead who should be singled out; it is the one who demands that others die for his or her gratification who should be the one who receives the quizzical, confused glance as we ask, “but why would you want that?” and it is the one whose pleasure is found in the sufferance and destruction of the weak and undefended who should feel isolation from his or her peers, the silence that folds like a shadow that comes from being the odd one out. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">There should have been fifteen in the pub that evening who were uninterested in any flesh-based burgers, the xmas party should have been heaving, swinging with the many who could eat whatever they wanted from the long tables, crowded with vegetables, fruits and all manner of non-animal cuisine, and below those silver domes should have been riches aplenty for those whose appetites are sated not by blood and death but by the plant-based offerings of a world of food bursting with goodness, and so they would have been if that chef was worth even a fraction of the cost of a meal held under the glittering light of the chandeliers in that dining room. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">So why is it not the right way around?&nbsp; Why is it so wrong? </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">Because we are led to believe lies.&nbsp; The world is warped, the truth is twisted, the facts are falsified, and the lies are laid out before us for our delectation and consumption – if we choose the lazy way and ask no questions, challenge no assumptions, and suppose that every presumption is promoted for the best of intentions, for the noblest of reasons, with everyone’s best interests at heart. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">No.&nbsp; This is a dark heart of corruption and distortion; the truth is crushed and lies roll over us; we are led to believe not only that animal body parts and their secretions are essential to human health – despite the irrefutable scientific evidence that disproves this categorically, but also that it must be so hard to live as one who has no animal products in the diet; people are made to feel that it’s just too difficult to change, that it’s just so hard to adapt to a life free from meat and dairy. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">We should not be surprised that this is so.&nbsp; The animal farming industry is worth billions of pounds in profit and those companies – whether producers, distributors or retailers – engaged in “feeding the masses” have a vested interest in everything remaining the same, in keeping the population pacified and docile, the mass of humanity leaning backwards, eyes rolling, tongues lolling and mouths agape as tons of rubbish is poured down their throats.&nbsp; But we don’t have to take their rubbish, we don’t have to fill our bellies with the bloody remains of the cruelly killed, we don’t have to stain our lips with the stolen milk of worn-out, run-down traumatised cows bellowing for their calves, now lying dead with a bullet in the head, shot within hours of being born. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">We don’t have to do any of that and stopping doing it is one of the easiest things we can do … as well as one of the most profoundly compassionate and beautiful acts we can ever perform. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">All that we have to do is to see them, those farmed animals, and see them all for who they really are, and see ourselves for who we really are and then just to modestly adjust our behaviours and live our life slightly differently, so that we can live a life whose every moment is devoted to compassion.&nbsp; This is all that we have to do, to adapt to a life of kindness and consideration for others. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">We are an adaptable species.&nbsp; We can adapt to anything.&nbsp; You’d be surprised what people can get used to, you would.&nbsp; It’s amazing really, our ability to adapt.&nbsp; There were men, and it was only men, who were taken as prisoners to Auschwitz-Birkenau in the Second World War and were forced to “work” in the murder chambers and crematoria as what the Nazis called Sonderkommando, a “special” team whose task it was to remove the dead bodies from the gas chambers, remove any gold teeth and jewellery – including intimate examinations for any hidden items, and then burn the bodies, either in open pits or in the crematoria.&nbsp; Often, these men saw and had to deal with the bodies of their families from whom they had been separated only hours before – and now they had to destroy them, utterly and completely.&nbsp; Some of those men “worked” in that horror, that abyssal nightmare, for months even in some cases years. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">Even under this most extreme of psychological tortures and trauma they survived, they maintained their decency and their dignity … they … adapted.&nbsp; That is a testament to their courage, the strength of their humanity and their determination to bear witness to this most grievous of evils.&nbsp; But they adapted. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">All that I ask is that we all adapt to soya milk instead of cow’s milk, adapt to tofu instead of ham, adapt to … letting other lives live.&nbsp; I ask only that we all live without the factory farm with its cages and chains, live without the weekly livestock market selling animals to their death, and that we all live without the slaughterhouse as the backdrop to our daily rituals, its walls running with blood, spilt just for us. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">We can have Weetabix for breakfast instead of sausages and bacon; we can have pizza, curry, burgers just the same … just without the animal pieces, and we can have life all around us not death in us and surrounding us. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">We can so easily live in a way that harms no-one, that causes no-one to suffer, no-one to feel pain, no-one to die, to lose their life just for us.&nbsp; From the moment we raise our head from the pillow in the morning until we rest it down again at the close of evening we can live and we can know that everyone else lived and no-one died because of us … no-one was shot because of us, no-one was stabbed in the heart because of us, no-one was anally-electrocuted because of us, no-one was kicked in the face, and punched in the eye, and beaten on the head and burned and scalded, and yelled at and cursed and hated and pushed and pulled and thrown and … … no-one screamed in pain because of us, no-one bowed their head and cried and died just because of us … </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">And we can live so well! </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">There’s a reason why heart disease, and diabetes, and obesity and dementia and cancer and so many other desperate afflictions are so rare amongst those who have no animal-based foods in their diet – certainly when contrasted with the meat-eaters in our society.&nbsp; Even taking everything else into account – lifestyle, exercise, age, gender, ethnicity, family history – all of the medical data all point the same way: that a plant-based or vegan diet is not only a healthy choice but the healthiest choice … </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">It allows us as human beings to live long and healthy lives, with a much, much lower risk of so many diseases that terrify so many.&nbsp; It is not inevitable that 1 in 3 of us must contract cancer as is suggested by so many cancer charities; heart disease is not an inevitable fact of life that can only be held at bay at best by surgery and a lifetime of popping pills; we do not have to spend the majority of our later years debilitated, in chronic pain, with worn and diseased bones, bereft of energy, vitality, the very life sapped from us even as we live … and wheeze and stagger, bent-double towards a cold, early grave. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">The one who is considering, but hesitating, about whether to make that choice and absent all animal products from their life – from their food, their clothes and furniture, cosmetics and household products, should ask themselves the simple question – what’s the worst that can happen? </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">Will their arms fall off?&nbsp; It seems unlikely.&nbsp; Will their eyeballs boil in their heads and explode outwards in a shower of tissue and membrane?&nbsp; That’s not expected to happen.&nbsp; Will their stomach erupt in a spasm of fiery rejection of fruits and vegetables, and be ripped asunder in a bloody horror of self-evisceration?&nbsp; That’s doubtful too. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">The worst, the very worst that can happen is that going shopping might take a bit longer as they scan the ingredients list of items on the supermarket shelf … that’s how bad it will ever get … </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">Now what’s the best that can happen?&nbsp; The person will feel healthier, more full of energy, and will know that their new diet is one that is most definitely more friendly to the environment, knowing that the precious limited water and food available on Earth is not poured into the mouths of livestock animals but is still there for the billion humans who are desperately parched and hungry.&nbsp; And they will know too that they are not responsible for any pain, any suffering, any violence, any cruelty, any beating, any bloodshed, any killing… </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">They will know that they are living a truly compassionate life, one that respects all life, one that cherishes life, one that really offers hope to those who hunger and thirst in our world, and offers safety and sanctuary to those who deserve our mercy, and protects and cares for the natural world, that safeguards the rainforests, the mangroves, the coral reefs, the rivers and seas and oceans, the savannahs and the forests, the fields and the wetlands, all secured for future generations to treasure the richness of the variety of life lived therein, and one that offers care and kindness to those who are undefended, that looks after the weak and the fragile, a life that expresses love in fullness and without hesitation, concession or compromise, a live of love lived completely and absolutely, a life of goodness, decency, kindness and compassion offered to all without exception…a long, healthy, wonderful life of joy and love … </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">That’s how good it can be. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">And we can all do it. We can all live that life.&nbsp; The power is ours, to change our lives and the lives of so many others. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">We do not have to wait for anyone to tell us what to do; we do not have to wait to be given permission to do what we want to do; we do not have to wait to change the world.&nbsp; We can do it now. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">We are often made to feel powerless, by lobbyists, by Governments, by big business, but they’re wrong&nbsp; -they don’t own this world; we do.&nbsp; They’re not in control; we are.&nbsp; They don’t have the power; it’s ours.&nbsp; In truth, they’re running scared from us, terrified that we won’t show our loyalty by always shopping at the same supermarket, always buying the same brands, always voting the same way … if we take away our loyalty, if we refuse to buy into what they want us to do, then there’s nothing that they can do about it … and they know it. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">They want us to feel weak, but we are strong; they want us to feel helpless and hopeless but hope is ours to offer and help is ours to give.&nbsp; They want us to feel that we can change nothing, but we can change everything.&nbsp; The power is ours; we are in control – of our destiny and the destiny of those billions of others in our world … and we can change the world … by thinking differently, by acting differently, by choosing to live differently, we can change the world. </font></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">It doesn’t matter that we get “singled out”, that people regard us as “the one”, because we’re the ones that are taking a stand, we’re the ones that are making a difference … and we are the ones that the world has been waiting for!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-73224072942728772272012-10-18T03:19:00.001-07:002012-10-18T03:31:38.100-07:00Vegan as Fuck<p align="justify"><font color="#000000"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="vegan as fuck" border="0" alt="vegan as fuck" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GudzUBsDhmY/UH_XmCvPXxI/AAAAAAAACV0/C6andPfEvHc/vegan%252520as%252520fuck%25255B6%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" width="419" height="351"></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">By : </font><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Richard Deboo</font></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Posted on </font><a title="Connect with vegetarian friends from all over the world!" href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/vegan-as-fuck-written-by-my-husband-richard-deboo" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Vegetarian Friend</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> By </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/debbiedeboo" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Debbiedeboo</font></a></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">The image, a logo if you like, that accompanies this note represents an ethical philosophy made manifest in the visual form, and is something newly made from a design on a t-shirt promoted by a pop band way back in the day, way back in the late 1980s.&nbsp; That design </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_pictured"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">pictured</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> a cow with the slogan above it reading “cool as f**k”.&nbsp; At the time, people thought that it was a cool t-shirt, lots of people liked it, and lots and lots of people were </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_wearing"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">wearing</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> that t-shirt way back in those days.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">This image creates something new from that design.&nbsp; It is a “readymade”, in the conception of Monsieur M Duchamp, which is why I have “signed” it R Nott, because we (the collective “I”) are not “copying” something, but creating something new; this is transformative, emblematic of the power of art to convert by subversion one thing into something else; it is new because I say it is.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">And this image is created to be deliberately provocative.&nbsp; It can be seen as being quite offensive, casually swearing like that.&nbsp; So why do it, and what on earth does “vegan as f**k” mean anyway?</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">It is for both vegans and non-vegans to see.&nbsp; But let’s deal firstly with the non-vegans.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">It’s a deliberately challenging statement, it’s supposed to be a bit in-your-face, and in a very real way, I really do not mind if it is seen to be offensive, I am content to offend non-vegans with it.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Why?&nbsp; Well, it’s only words, it’s just a phrase, it’s merely a logo, </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_simply"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">simply</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> an image, and if people can be offended by <em>that</em>, then why are they not offended by all of the cruelty, bloodshed and killing done to non-human animals <em>in their name </em>every moment<em> </em>of every day of every year?</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">If someone is not a vegan (and the desperate truth alas is that the sheer, overwhelming majority in society are not vegans), then these people are the consumers of the products that I despise so much, they are the supporters of the practices that make my blood boil so intensely, and it is they who provide profit to those companies</font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_companies"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> and individuals who directly commit the acts that shatter my sensibilities so comprehensively.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">If someone is not a vegan then that person is <em>for</em> the violence in the slaughterhouses, <em>for</em> the brutality of the dairy industry, <em>for</em> the horrors of the poultry industry, <em>for</em> the ferocious violence of the factory farms,<em>for</em> the devastation of the seas and the emptying of the oceans, they are <em>for</em> the destruction of the rainforests, <em>for</em> the filthing and pollution of the land and marine environments and they are <em>for</em> the appalling waste of scarce water and food when a billion people are profoundly parched and malnourished, on the brink of starvation… and, finally, they are <em>for</em> the vicious killing of billions upon billions of suffering, pained and fearful <em>individuals</em> year after year.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Now <em>that</em> is something that <em>I</em> find offensive.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">When I walk down the aisle of a supermarket and I see the serried rows of freshly packed sliced dead flesh, knowing full well the horror and the misery, the fear and the pain endured by those animals in their deliberately foreshortened lives and violent deaths, and I see people absent-mindedly browsing the tidy packaging, casually, indifferently, selecting their cuts of “meat”, then I find <em>that</em> offensive.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">When I go to my local tube station on the London Underground first thing in the morning on my way to </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_work"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">work</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> and I see the local shop selling sandwiches listed as ham, cheese, ham and cheese, chicken, turkey, and prawn, and the bored commuters lazily making their casual purchases of bits of the dead and their drained fluids, then I find <em>that</em> offensive.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">When I read in the morning paper that all of this damned nation’s five favourite sandwiches contain “chicken” as an ingredient, then I find <em>that</em> offensive.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">And because I have allowed myself to know the staggering cruelty behind all of these simply </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_packaged"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">packaged products</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">, so ubiquitous, so easily and readily accessible and available, with their names (“ham”, “pork”, “cheese”, “lamb”, “beef”, “veal”) and </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_pictures"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">pictures</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> so nonchalantly displayed everywhere I turn, everywhere I look, shops, newspapers, television, and I see and I </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_watch"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">watch</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> so many buying into it, perpetuating – by their very and every purchase – that shattering cruelty against those defenseless animals, then I find <em>that</em> offensive.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">So really, I’m quite happy to go on the “offensive”, and to be deliberately provocative; I really do not mind if non-vegans are offended by the wording on this image… I am tired of having to tip-toe oh so delicately around the issues, to be all quiet and meek and mild about why I am a vegan and must instead be careful to protect and not offend the soft sensibilities of the meat-eater; and I am tired of having to be apologetic about it, a “mistake” of mine, apparently, a bit “weird”, this being a vegan.&nbsp; But I’m having none of it.&nbsp; No more.&nbsp; The abuse, torture and killing of billions of non-human animals is a horror of searing proportions; it’s disgusting, it’s sickening, and I’m frankly appalled that so many people can be so damned casual about it, can act like it’s no big deal at all, and don’t seem to be offended by it, at all, not a bit of it, at all.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">And so.&nbsp; By mixing the word vegan with the word f**k, I want to shock people, I want to shake them out of their slumbering complacency, to rouse them from their idle docility.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I know that for people to be so unmoved by the intense horror, savagery and waste of the so-called “animal product industry” should not surprise me and it does not surprise me; too often too many have behaved in this way.&nbsp; In a very different situation, but for very similar reasons, Wilfred Owen, the great poet of the first World War, was compelled to write:</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">“But cursed are dullards whom no cannon stuns,</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">That they should be as stones.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Wretched are they, and mean</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">With paucity that never was simplicity.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">By choice they made themselves immune</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">To pity and whatever mourns in man”</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">(Wilfred Owen, <em>Insensibility</em>, 1918)</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">He was compelled to write that because he was shocked and deeply morally affronted that people “back home” in the UK were utterly unmoved by the carnage, the horror, and the waste of the war on the Western Front… this jarring fact that many were left untroubled, untouched and indifferent to the torment, the violence, and the hell endured by men in those trenches was for Mr. Owen nothing less than the complete debasement of humanity.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">And now, in a very different situation but for a very similar reason must I state the stark, bloody fact that, by <em>choice</em>, the non-vegans in our society have made themselves immune to all of the extreme, vile violence done daily to millions of non-humans in the name of profit, of pleasure (“I love a bit of steak!”) and the alleged pursuit of knowledge (in the barbarity of our “bio-medical research” institutions).&nbsp; To satisfy the desire for a bite to eat, for a new pair of shoes or a coat, or a new version of an old pill, people choose to remain as dullards, as stones, in the face of the cry of agony – they have no pity.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I do not understand the value systems of those who remain immune to the suffering of the innocent, the defenseless, those animals who are utterly at our mercy and are shown no mercy but instead get a kick in the face and a knife in the throat.&nbsp; I do not understand how those people can sanction and be satisfied with such horror.&nbsp; So: if anyone were to see this image and be offended, I seriously could care less.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">But this is also there for vegans to see too.&nbsp; What message does it convey to vegans?</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">What I hope is that it serves as to signify who vegans are, and what we can and do represent.&nbsp; For too long the media image of the vegan, and the stereotype that most carry around in their heads, is of someone who’s a bit scatty, possibly terribly middle class or a tad “alt” with black clothes and dyed hair, someone with too much time on their hands so that they meddle their minds and fiddle their fingers with twee little things like a thousand and one recipes for lentil soup.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">As far as society in general is concerned, vegans are bit daft; a bit weird, best left alone, too odd and dull for company, people who spend too much time thinking about little fluffy rabbits, who would be tedious killjoys at parties and would drink only carrot or orange juice whilst stood in the corner flowering the wall, smiling weakly and dreaming wistfully of hemp clothing.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">But they’ve got it all wrong.&nbsp; We’re cooler than that.&nbsp; We’re far, far cooler than that.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">We don’t go around supporting and lapping up the spilling of blood on a global scale, the violent confinement and beating, punching and kicking of the innocent, we don’t accept and nod our heads at the slashing and stabbing of throats, the boiling and grinding up alive of conscious, sentient, pain-sensitive beings.&nbsp; We’re too cool to go along with crap like that.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">We don’t sit back and let ourselves be pacified by a foul pack of lies about how farming is now so good for animals, or swallow wholesale the mind-vomit alleging that organic farming is so welfare-centered and the animals are so happy; we’re not taken in by corporate lies and the lies of food industry lobbyists about how we should all be eating so much fish or other “meats”, and drinking so much milk and gobble up so many eggs, because it’s all apparently so good for us, whilst those who tell us to do so line their pockets with money as people line their hearts with cholesterol.&nbsp; We don’t fall for a word of it because we’re not that stupid.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">We don’t stuff our faces and over-fill our bellies with the foods that we know are the single biggest cause of climate change and are the number one reason why we’re tearing down the rainforests and burning them and all who live within them into oblivion; we don’t obsess at the desire to rip up the ocean floor to grab every living thing that swims and crawls below the waves, leaving only a desert bereft utterly of the abundance and magnificence of life that once thrived there and survives no more either there or anywhere.&nbsp; We’re far too smart to trash the only planet that we have.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">We don’t slop and slurp at the lactation fluid of ruminants, salivating over milk designed for a new-born whilst that new born is slashed and slaughtered for cheap meat and the grieving mother is impregnated yet again in an unending cycle of reproductive misery that all too quickly crushes the life from her, done to death for the sake of a splash of liquid in a bowl of cereal or a cup of tea.&nbsp; We don’t do that because we’re just not that heartless and cruel – to steal the life-food of infants and tear the young from their mothers, and the mothers from their new-born young.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">We don’t believe for one minute the outrageous untruths peddled by the medical and pharmaceutical industries, who’ve got billions of pounds in profits riding on perpetuating the old lies about how useful to human health are those millions of animal experiments whilst at the same time, despite those millions of animal experiments, the fourth biggest killer in the country is people dying from popping animal-tested pills.&nbsp; Sorry, but no: we’ve read the research, we’ve analyzed the data, we’ve counted the staggering number of animal and human corpses, and we can work out the truth for ourselves.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">We’re too smart, too independently minded, too aware, too ethical, too moral, too caring, too compassionate, too decent, too radical, too revolutionary, too damned cool to be suckered into any of that crap.&nbsp; We’re vegan, and we’re vegan for literally bloody good reasons.&nbsp; We’re vegan and we’re vegan as fuck.</font> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-33897914537117218172012-10-18T03:01:00.001-07:002012-10-18T03:01:46.840-07:00Some People Refuse To See Fact<p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 6px 2px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="is milk really healthy?" border="0" alt="is milk really healthy?" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--Q26EOXCWQw/UH_ThqYnlYI/AAAAAAAACVU/Z5XCoMMTa58/glass%252520of%252520milk%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="336" height="267">By : </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/LaurenWoods" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Lauren Woods</font></a> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">How come even when you present people with fact about the vegan lifestyle, people don't believe? It is so frustrating! I don't push it in anyone's face, because I'm fresh as a vegetarian and still learning myself- but the more I learn, the more I want to share.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">All those years I was drinking milk I was feeling so good about it... I just can't see how myself, and so many people </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_remain"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">remain</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_ignorant"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">ignorant</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> about nutrition. </font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://saveourbones.com/osteoporosis-milk-myth/" target="_blank">http://saveourbones.com/osteoporosis-milk-myth/</a></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">The milk myth has spread around the world based on the flawed belief that this protein and calcium-rich drink is essential to support good overall health and bone health in particular at any age. It is easy to understand</font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_understand"></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> that the confusion about milk’s imaginary benefits stems from the fact that it contains calcium – around 300 </font><a href="http://saveourbones.com/osteoporosis-milk-myth/#" name="_GPLITA_2"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">mg</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> per cup.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">But many scientific </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_studies"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">studies</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> have shown an assortment of detrimental health effects directly linked to milk consumption. And the most surprising link is that not only do we </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_barely"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">barely</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> absorb the calcium in cow’s milk (especially if pasteurized), but to make matters worse, it actually increases calcium loss from the bones. What an irony this is!</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Here’s how it happens. Like all animal protein, milk acidifies the body pH which in turn triggers a biological correction. You see, calcium is an excellent acid neutralizer and the biggest storage of calcium in the body is – you guessed it… in the bones. So the very same calcium that our bones need to stay strong is utilized to neutralize the acidifying effect of milk. Once calcium is pulled out of the bones, it leaves the body </font><a href="http://saveourbones.com/osteoporosis-milk-myth/#" name="_GPLITA_1"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">via</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> the urine, so that the surprising net </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_result"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">result</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> after this is an actual calcium deficit.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Knowing this, you’ll understand why statistics show that countries with the lowest consumption of dairy products</font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_products"></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> also have the lowest fracture incidence in their population (there’s more on this later).</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Source: </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/some-people-refuse-to-see-fact" target="_blank"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/some-people-refuse-to-see-fact</font></a> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-39349804129545998942012-10-18T02:50:00.001-07:002012-10-18T02:51:46.431-07:00Butterfly<p align="justify"><a></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">By : </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/BladeSafar" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Blade Safar</strong></font></a><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">One of the hardest things to catch.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">It’s the </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_beauty"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">beauty</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> in your eyes, That I catch flutter by.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">It’s the captivating movement, </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_Watching"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">watching</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> you to and fro</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">It’s the colour of your mind, That makes my world shine.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">.. We pass through fields of flowers, Chasing you for hours.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">No </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_matter"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">matter</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> how I try, Your wings just flutter by.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">It </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_hurts"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">hurts</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> me deep inside, To know you won’t be by my side.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_guess"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">guess</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> it’s how it feels, To know when things are real.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I’ve </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_learned"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">learned</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> chasing you is impossible, Coming to me is plausible.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">For now I wait outside, </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_watching"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Watching</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> on the side.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">……. I just know, I’d never let you go.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">My butterfly.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>Source : </em></font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/butterfly" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/butterfly</em></font></a><font color="#000000"></font></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-17790014636461231262012-10-18T02:43:00.001-07:002012-10-18T02:44:17.964-07:00Rant, Here's My Guts<p align="justify"><a></a><font color="#000000"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">By ： </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/LeannaGonzalez" target="_blank"><strong><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Leanna Gonzalez</font></strong></a></font><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I was recently singled out publicly </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_online"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">online</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> for all to see by what was once considered a "friend" over my veg diet and how I force it in peoples faces... well, for one, I have never targeted someone and bombarded them with reasons why their diet is bad and I have just NEVER confronted anyone. I made it so that if they were interested they could </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_simply"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">simply</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> comment on a status or just </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_ignore"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">ignore</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> the post but never directed at anyone, just general things. Secondly, my posts were very general and never directed at anyone, just liked links, shared videos, and statuses very relevant to my life just like everybody else. Not everything I posted was all the same or about the general subject of health and diet at all. I had to clear the list of people </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_connected"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">connected</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> to me and rid it from the people who seemed to be very hostile and against my diet...but to get to the point of this post... as I learn more I really wish my posts were paid more attention to and that my 'friends' would </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_listen"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">listen</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">The fallacies of dairy milk and how something deemed 'healthy' could really just be paid off just to market that it is. Cow milk is, in fact, not healthy for you and everything you need is given to you naturally from the earth. Small video: </font><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTo5TulJLU8" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTo5TulJLU8</font></a><font color="#000000"></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> or article here: </font><a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/harvard-reports-milk-is-not-the-best-source-of-calcium/" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/harvard-reports-milk-is-not-the-...</font></a><font color="#000000"></font><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> In the video given it actually says that the advertisement about how milk </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_builds"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">builds</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> strong bones is actually false so it had to stop being used.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Also, I know my brother has opted to stop drinking regular colas and started drinking diet ones. I knew aspartame was bad but when I really looked into it I was very concerned for his health because it is an artificial sweetener in diet drinks and other products... video here: </font><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvFRLIjOLOU" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvFRLIjOLOU</font></a><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Just... even generally with a veg diet I wish that people would listen and open their eyes that nothing good has really come from the consumption of meat or animal products, especially because of all the illness, disease, and cancer that has been linked to together with certain dietary factors like meat in The China</font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_Study"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Study</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> by Dr. Campbell.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Honestly, it just kind've... REALLY tears me down that people still partake in diets that basically only hurt themselves and I wish they'd listen so they can have a life of good energy and feeling. It's funny how the meat section in the markets has dramatically grown and so has diabetes, heart disease, obesity, stroke and cancer. I try and get the word out out of compassion from my heart, to anyone that will listen for their health... and for the animals. I don't force it, but I just wish I could talk about it with more people that would become interested in it while they assess the ways their lifestyle choices might have been wrong for their whole being.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">End rant. :) </font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000"><em><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Source : </font></em><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/rant-here-s-my-guts" target="_blank"><em><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/rant-here-s-my-guts</font></em></a></font></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-21293771970236642572012-10-17T01:08:00.001-07:002012-10-17T01:13:38.703-07:00Total Vegetarians<p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></strong></font></font></font>&nbsp;</p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">By : </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/LaurenWoods" target="_blank"><font color="#000000"><strong>Lauren Woods</strong></font></a></font></p> <ul> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Total Vegetarians</strong> eat only plant food. They do not eat any animal foods, including fish, eggs, dairy products, and honey. </font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Vegans</strong> not only omit all animal products from their diets, but they also eliminate them from the rest of their life. Vegans use nothing from animals, such as leather, wool, and silk. </font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Lacto-Vegetarians</strong> will include dairy products into their diet of plant food. </font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarians</strong> eat both eggs and dairy products. </font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Pesco-Vegetarians</strong> include fish into their diets. </font></div></li> <li> <div align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Pollo-Vegetarians</strong> eat poultry, such as chicken, turkey, and duck.</font></div></li></ul> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 6px 2px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Total Vegetarian" border="0" alt="Total Vegetarian" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9NyltVXNQ7c/UH5nfQY6S6I/AAAAAAAACU4/JZAmjcbmDXc/total%252520egetarian%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="265" height="230"></font></strong></font></font></font>I've decided it's the time to stop drinking dairy. It is now February 1st, the start of a new month, feels right to make changes :)! I haven't had cheese in a week- or eggs- I haven't had honey in ... a year? Not a big honey person. I like it, I just don't normally eat foods which include it. I've been addicted to chocolate milk all my life, but they have <em>chocolate milk substitutes</em>, and that is where I'm starting as of today :O)</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> I'm happy my diet has evolved so quickly- I thought giving up meat would be so much harder. I never dreamed I'd give up dairy, but I feel so.. GOOD. Energized, happy. I may become <em>vegan </em>well before my birthday O.O! If I become <u>vegan</u> do I have to get rid of any clothes I have that may be wool? I never pay attention to clothes, I know my wardrobe is mainly comprised of cotton... Just asking, lmao. I respect <em>veganism</em>, I just want to do it right when I get to it!</font> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em><font color="#000000">Source : </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/total-vegetarian" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/total-vegetarian</font></a></em><em></em></font> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-4143643860352040242012-10-16T22:11:00.001-07:002012-10-16T22:11:24.094-07:00What 2012 Means to My Diet<p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 7px 2px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Lauren Woods - Vegetarian Friend" border="0" alt="Lauren Woods - Vegetarian Friend" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-I5fqeNlTR5g/UH4981PjPFI/AAAAAAAACT8/AKlJBbcGcWc/lauren%252520woods%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="241" height="334">By : </font><a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profile/LaurenWoods" target="_blank"><font color="#000000"><strong>Lauren Woods</strong></font></a></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I was so happy to find <a title="Vegetarian Friend" href="http://www.vegfriend.com/" target="_blank">this site</a> :)! Everyone has been so </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_wonderful"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">wonderful</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> and supportive.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Up until around 2011, however, I was a HUGE meat eater. It was all I had ever known, </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_growing"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">growing</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> up. The only veggies I knew were: salad, kiwis, maybe broccoli every once and a while. Focus at breakfast lunch and dinner was always meat meat meat. </font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">My grandma had diabetes, and as she began to struggle with cancer, I heard that a <em>raw diet can reverse diabetes</em>, possibly even cancer. Then my mom began to develop diabetes, along with a whole round of other health issues, just like HER mom... I decided right then I wasn't going to be the same. She constantly disobeys her doctor's orders as to her diet- and </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_watching"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">watching</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> her health decline is very sad.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I got REALLY fat eating all that meat. By cutting back on meat and exercising (No one moves an inch in my family lmao) I lost 55 lbs. This year I hope to get down to 118. I ran from obesity, toward the light! Lol. It wasn't until 2012 when I made my resolutions, that I began to make some BIG changes.</font> <p align="justify"><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_January"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">January</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> 1st, I became a pescetarian. At first, I was orbiting all my meals around fish, overeating fish- compensating for all the other meat I was ripping clear from my diet. As of today, Jan 30th 2012- I am <em>lacto-vegetarian</em>. Though really- I haven't had sushi OR eggs for two days, but I made the conscience </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_decision"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">decision</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">today. I still drink milk- but this week I'm going to buy a milk substitute at the store, and begin my <em>transition to dairy free</em>. I haven't put cheese on anything in days, hoorah.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> My birthday is in July, and by then I'd like to be <em>vegan</em>, and bake my own </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_delicious"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">delicious</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> <em>vegan cake</em> :)!! I'm finally excited about foods again... And since my diet change, MY INSOMNIA IS GONE!! I couldn't believe it. I'd suffered from insomnia for years, and was diagnosed very young. I'd tried everything, from pills to rigorous exercise- but even 3 </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_hours"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">hours</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> at the gym wouldn't wipe me out, or at least give me a FULL night's sleep. It was as simple as changing my diet.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">2012 for me is the year of regaining my life back- the life I SHOULD have, but has been denied to me through my family's bad habits. I'm also beginning volunteering at the <strong>Humane Society</strong>, so wish me luck!</font> <p align="left"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><em>Source : <a href="http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/what-2012-means-to-my-diet" target="_blank">http://www.vegfriend.com/profiles/blogs/what-2012-means-to-my-diet</a></em><em></em></font> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-8863246987033441742012-10-16T12:39:00.001-07:002012-10-16T12:39:42.108-07:00Vitamin D - Kind Life Blog from Alicia Silverstone<p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Here is an interesting blog post from Alicia Silverstones </font><a href="http://www.thekindlife.com/" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">http://www.thekindlife.com/</font></a><font color="#000000"></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Link to the </font><a href="http://www.thekindlife.com/post/kind-classics-my-thoughts-on-beeswax-2" target="_blank"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">original article</font></a></font><font color="#000000"></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><strong>Kind Classics: The Deal with Vitamin D</strong><br>Posted by Alicia Silverstone on Jan 27, 2012</font></font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 8px 2px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="natural source of vitamin d" border="0" alt="natural source of vitamin d" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1fHukE4Op1M/UH23-RdqIhI/AAAAAAAACTc/FQTUyVCZGRU/vitamin%252520d%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244">I’ve always assumed that I get all the Vitamin D I need on a daily basis just from being out in the sun. Of course, too much exposure can be harmful, but living in sunny California gives me the chance on most days to soak up the sun while I’m out taking a walk, gardening or getting to and from my car.&nbsp; Sometimes I’ll just stop what I’m doing, open my arms, take a deep breath and really feel the sun on my face for a few relaxing </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_minutes"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">minutes</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">It wasn’t until some of you Kind Lifers inquired about Vitamin D recently, that I decided to dig deeper into this subject and see if what I’d always thought was actually the truth. Do those short bursts of sunlight exposure really supply enough Vitamin D to those of us who live and</font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_work"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">work</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> indoors in large, polluted urban areas? And, if not, what’s the deal with supplements?&nbsp; Are they helpful? And, if they are, what’s the proper dosage?&nbsp; For these and other answers, I decided to seek out perspectives from Dr. Neal Barnard and Christina Pirello, both of whom walked me through the whole topic with their usual brilliance and clarity. Here’s what I learned:</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">For starters, let’s explain what Vitamin D is. In simple terms, it’s a fat-soluble vitamin that our body</font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_manufactures"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">manufactures</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> when it’s exposed to the sun. It has a </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_number"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">number</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> of purposes, but Vitamin D’s main job is to maintain the right balance of calcium and phosphorus in our blood, help us to absorb enough calcium in our bones and, in general, to work with other vitamins at keeping our bones healthy and strong.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">We don’t have to roast in the sun all day long to get a healthy daily dose of Vitamin D, but we do have to get a good 10-15 minutes of direct sunlight to even approach our </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_minimum"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">minimum</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> requirements. But before you go thinking that a few trips back and forth to your car will do the trick, keep in mind that this minimum exposure time will generally be higher for those of us who live in cities and areas where pollution, cloud cover and other obstructions can </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_block"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">block</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> the vast majority of the sun’s UV rays.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">If you’re getting out and exercising in the sun each day, you’re taking a big step towards meeting your daily Vitamin D requirement in addition to all the other health benefits that regular exercise offers. But, the sad truth is that a lot of us live in situations and areas where our exposure to sun is limited. Our access to sunshine can be affected and compromised by everything from latitude to climate to pollution to even our work schedules. In some cases, physical characteristics like old age, darker skin tones or very young breast-feeding infants have more difficulty getting enough Vitamin D as well. Because of any combination of these and other factors, some of us Kind Lifers might not get as much Vitamin D as we should. If you think this might be the case with you, it’s easy to have your doctor give you a simple blood test that can screen you for any vitamin and mineral deficiencies, including Vitamin D.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">The point is, each of us has different individual needs. For me, a plant-based diet and healthy lifestyle fulfills most of the nutritional requirements that others might use vitamin supplements to meet.&nbsp; Most people should get about 1,000 – 2,000 IU of Vitamin D per day, but, if you belong to one of the more potentially Vitamin D-deficient groups mentioned above, you may benefit from taking supplements.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">As always, it’s best to figure out your personal supplemental dosage in consultation with your doctor, based on your specific deficiency levels. Or you can skip the blood test and take a small dosage of Vitamin D if you think you might need it, since excess Vitamin D is not likely to do much harm other than making your liver work a little harder than necessary. If you do take supplements, my </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_sources"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">sources</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> tell me that the plant-based supplement D-2 is far more preferable and just as effective as D-3 which is not vegan.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416854937315726483.post-29872813979324825092012-10-16T12:21:00.001-07:002012-10-16T12:26:52.423-07:00Your Vegetarian Child: How Healthy Are They? Are Their Nutritional Needs Being Met?<p align="justify"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">An Interesting article FROM: </font><a href="http://www.gotohealth.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">www.gotohealth.com</font></a></font><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Marilyn Sterling, R.D.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 8px 2px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="healthy vegetarian children" border="0" alt="healthy vegetarian children" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pbfLS2vMzxU/UH20DC_B7II/AAAAAAAACS8/Og8Gh976FZE/healthy%252520vegetarian%252520children%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="193" height="299">Concerned parents who want to raise healthy vegetarian children often ask about their children's specific nutritional requirements. Are they getting enough iron or calcium? Should they be taking supplements? Will they be as strong and </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_grow"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">grow</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> as fast as their omnivorous friends? These are valid concerns, but all of them can be resolved if parents provide a balanced and varied diet. Of course, vegetarianism means different things to different people. At one end of the spectrum are vegans, who eat no animal products whatsoever. They exclude all foods associated with animals, including honey and gelatin. Then there are lacto-ovo vegetarians, who eat eggs and dairy products but no meat. Lactovegetarians eat dairy but not eggs or meat. At the other end of the spectrum are semivegetarians, who occasionally eat fish or fowl but no red meat and definitely emphasize a plant-based diet.</font></p> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Vegetarian children are becoming more common as many parents choose vegetarianism in their search for </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_alternative"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">alternative</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> lifestyles. Parents, however, must</font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_understand"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">understand</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> how to translate children's special nutritional needs into tonight's dinner. Vegetarians are often nutrition savvy and can provide a model of healthy eating, but there are different nutritional requirements for children and adults. Most important, children have higher metabolic rates and consequently higher energy requirements than adults.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Vegetarian diets are typically high in fiber, so children eating this diet, unlike their carnivorous counterparts, get sufficient fiber. [1] But bulky, fibrous foods can fill up small stomachs before enough calories are consumed. Recent </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_studies"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">studies</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> confirm that sufficient calories may be a concern for preschool vegetarians, [2] so they need plenty of higher-calorie, nutrient-dense foods such as nut butters and dried fruit. </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_Studies"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">studies</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> from 15 and 20 years ago raised concerns that vegetarian children were shorter, [3] but a landmark </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_study"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">study</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> of a commune </font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_called"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">called</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> "The Farm" in Summertown, Tenn., found that slightly slowed toddler growth completely normalized by age 10. [4] Children older than seven who follow a nutritious vegetarian diet can be expected to grow well--maybe even better than their omnivorous counterparts. [5,6]</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Some nutrients are found predominantly in animal products, so vegetarians must make sure these nutrients are included in their diets, whether by careful food selection or supplementation. Prime among them is iron, which is required for making red blood cells. Vegetarian children do have fewer red blood cells than omnivores. [7,8] When levels are too low, the</font><a name="AdBriteInlineAd_result"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">result</font></a><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"> is anemia, which may cause learning and psychomotor problems, fatigue and infection. My observation is that vegetarian children whose basic diet consists of fast food, macaroni and cheese, instant noodle soups and pizza are often anemic. Vegetarian children in carnivorous households who eat only parts of the family meal often eat a high-starch diet that puts them at risk of anemia. I have noticed that children who eat beans or tofu several times a day and dark green vegetables along with a source of vitamin C at mealtime (to increase iron absorption) have plenty of red blood cells.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Despite the risk of lower iron levels affecting learning in young children, older vegetarian children may actually have higher IQs than carnivores. [9] Anemia is also caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency. Because vitamin B12 is found in all animal products, deficiency is of primary concern for vegans. B12 is stored in the body, so a deficiency can take several years to manifest. However, only dietary B12 is incorporated into breast milk, so it is important for breast-feeding vegans to get enough B12. The risk is a B12 deficiency in the baby, which can cause severe neurological damage. Because B12 is also found in bacteria, young children do get a bit from putting toys or objects in their mouths. A B12 deficiency in young vegan children can slow their growth. [10-12] Clearly vitamin B12 supplementation is in order for breast-feeding vegans, their babies and vegan children.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">The high-fiber content of vegetarian diets also retains some minerals in the gut, reducing absorption of iron, zinc, iodine, calcium and selenium. [13] Phytates, the fibers found in whole wheat, are the worst offenders. A zinc deficiency is more critical in vegetarian children than in adults for two reasons. First, children need relatively more zinc per pound of body weight than adults. Second, adults can adapt to a diet low in zinc by absorbing a higher percentage of the mineral from their food, whereas children are unable to make this adjustment. Because lactovegetarians consume dairy products, a good source of zinc, they are usually not deficient in it. However, the main source of zinc in vegan diets is wheat, the same grain that inhibits its absorption. Insufficient zinc may reduce appetite and decrease resistance to infection. [14] Parents should make sure their vegan children eat nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains and soyfoods in order to get enough zinc.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Calcium content is probably the most controversial aspect of vegan diets. While soy-based supplemental formulas and soy milks fortified with calcium can substitute for cow's milk, many children raised on dairy-free diets have low calcium intakes. In the past, calcium intake never concerned me--after all, we didn't evolve drinking milk past infancy--but I've seen too many dairy-free children with poor teeth or bone problems. Children who drink milk substitutes not fortified with calcium are at most risk. Vegan children should drink two cups of fortified soy or other milks daily and eat tofu made with calcium and other foods rich in calcium. Vitamin D, required to absorb calcium, is also added to some soy- and rice-milk substitutes. Vegan children in gloomy climates may not get enough sunshine to manufacture vitamin D. On rare occasions, dark-skinned young vegans even have rickets, a vitamin D deficiency disease, when they are breast-fed exclusively past six months or eat lots of whole wheat. [15,16] Breast milk alone doesn't provide enough vitamin D for darker-skinned toddlers, so if they don't get a couple hours of sunlight a week, a vitamin D supplement is suggested.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">What about fats and oils? For their first two years, children need dietary cholesterol to form myelin nerve coatings. Breast milk is high in cholesterol. After age two, cholesterol requirements decline, and children can make all the cholesterol they need in their livers. Studies of school-age vegetarian and carnivorous children found they have the same cholesterol levels. [17] In general, vegetarian children have a higher ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids in their diets. Their lower level of saturated fats could lead to healthier adulthoods. However, chocolate, butter and cheese are high in saturated fats, while crackers, pastries and deep-fried food may contain harmful trans fatty acids.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Making careful food choices in any vegetarian diet is still necessary to ensure children eat the optimal fats. DHA, docosahexaenoic acid, for example, is an omega-3 fatty acid found in breast milk, cold-water fish, plant sources such as flax or pumpkin seeds, and dark green vegetables such as kale or chard. DHA is important for fetal and infant brain development. [18] Although breast milk remains the primary source of DHA, researchers found significant variations in breast-milk DHA levels around the world. The lowest concentrations were found in vegan and American mothers, and the highest in mothers who ate fish regularly. [19] Plant-based DHA supplements are available, and vegans should consider them if their diets lack this essential fatty acid.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">Parents may think raising a healthy vegetarian child requires a Ph.D. in nutrition, but they shouldn't feel daunted. Major problems are rare, usually affecting babies whose parents make up their own, inadequate infant formula using soy milk or other bases without providing additional nutrients. In fact, well-fed vegetarian children may actually be healthier because they escape contamination from hormones and other chemicals fed to food animals. Eating lower on the food chain means children accumulate fewer pesticides and other toxic organochlorines such as PCBs and dioxin. [20] These chemicals accumulate from birth in fat tissue, so healthy childhood diets can provide lifelong protection. Adult vegetarians with a healthy lifestyle have a 30 percent lower chance of dying prematurely, and most causes of adult death are long-term conditions that may actually begin in childhood. [21] Children who eat healthily from birth are instilled with intelligent eating habits--a skill that can mean a lifetime of good health.</font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>* References:</strong></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Times New Roman">1 Dwyer, J.F. "Dietary fiber for children--how much?" Pediatrics, 96: 1019-22, November 1995. 2 Sanders, T.A. "Vegetarian diets and children," Ped Clin North Amer, 4: 955-65, August 1995. 3 Dwyer, loc. cit. 4 O'Connell, J.M., et al. "Growth of vegetarian children: The Farm study," Ped, 84(3): 475-81, September 1989. 5 Nathan, I., et al. "A longitudinal study of the growth of matched pairs of vegetarian and omnivorous children, ages 7-11 years, in the northwest of England," Eur J Clin Nutr, 51(1): 20-5, January 1997. 6 Sabate, J., et al. "Attained height of lacto-ovo vegetarian children," Eur J Nutr, 45(1): 51-8, January 1991. 7 Sanders, loc. cit. 8 Nathan, I., et al. "The dietary intake of a group of vegetarian children aged 7-11 compared with matched omnivores," Br J Nut, 75(4): 533-44, April 1996. 9 Sanders, loc. cit. 10 Miller, D.R., et al. "Vitamin B12 status in a macrobiotic community," Am J Clin Nutr, 53(2): 524-29, February 1991. 11 Kuhne, T., et al. "Maternal vegan diet causing a serious infantile neurological disorder due to vitamin B12 deficiency," Eur J Ped, 150(3): 205-8, January 1991. 12 Specker, B.L., "Nutritional concerns of lactating women consuming vegetarian diets," Am J Clin Nutr, 59(5 Sup): 11825-65, May 1994. 13 Sanders, T.A. &amp; Reddy, S. "Vegetarian diets and children," Am J Clin Nutr, 59(5 Sup): 1175S-81S, May 1994. 14 Gibson, R.S. "Content and bioavailability of trace elements in vegetarian diets," Am J Clin Nutr, 59(5 Sup): 1223S-32S, May 1994. 15 Sanders, loc. cit. 16 Henderson, J.B., et al. "The importance of limited exposure to UV radiation and dietary factors in the aetiology of Asian rickets, a risk factor model," Q J Med, 63(24): 413-25, May 1987. 17 Nathan, loc. cit. 18 Carlson, S.E., et al. "Synopsis: Dietary omega-3 fatty acids and the development of the brain and retina in human infants," NOAA technical memorandum, NMFS-SEFSC-367, NIH meeting on omega-3 fatty acid research, May 12, 1994. 19 Ibid. 20 Hall, R.H. "A new threat to public health: Organochlorines and food," Nutr Health, 8(1): 33-43, 1992. 21 Ritter, M.M. "Effects of a vegetarian lifestyle on health," Fortschr Med, 113(16): 239-42, June 10, 1995. Marilyn Sterling, R.D., is a freelance writer, consultant and practicing nutritionist in northern California</font> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> Vegetarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08571788539849201292noreply@blogger.com2